Public Lab

C R P ( C- Reactive Protein )

Rate: Rs. 250

Sample

This test can be done on serum(clotted blood 3-5 ml).It is advisable to perform the test on fresh sample.Can store at 4C for < 72 hours.

Avoid hemolysed or lipemic samlples.

Important facts

•This is acute phase protein which is gamma mobility protein and is very helpful in monitoring of inflammation.

•CRP is synthesised in the liver and its synthesis is intiated by antigen complexes.

•CRP form complx on the surface of bacteria (E.coli, S.pneumoniae), fungi and other microorganism.This complexed CRP is a potent opsonin for monocytes, leading to phagocytosis.

•It activates the classical complement pathway.

Quantitative test is more useful than qualitative test.

Significance

•It is raised in Inflammatiation, necrosis or tissue injury.

•It increases in hours and falls within 2-3 days of inciting event.Therefore it can be used to follow the response to therapy (antibiotics )or activity of disease( chrons disease).

•Use of steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can significantly lowers the CRP level.

•The level of CRP incrases dramatically than others Acute phase protein.So CRP is more useful of the acute phase proteins.

CRP is raised in

1.Active Rheumatic disease( Rheumatoid Arthritis,Rheumatic fever.

2.Acute Mycardial Infarction.

3.Tissue injury or necrosis.

CRP level is useful in clinical evaluation of SLE ,Leukaemia, Blast crises and ulcerative coloitis.

Normal

Normally it is negative or <1 mg/dl.

•There is good correlation with ESR rate,but CRP appears and disappear earlier than changes in ESR.