What the CRP Test (C-Reactive Protein) measures
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein made by the liver. Its level in the blood rises within hours when there is inflammation somewhere in the body, for example from a bacterial infection, an injury, or a flare of an inflammatory condition such as rheumatoid arthritis. CRP does not say where the inflammation is or what is causing it; it tells the doctor how much inflammation there is and, when repeated, whether it is settling or getting worse. That is why it is often ordered alongside a blood count when someone has fever, and repeated during treatment to see whether an infection is responding. A very high CRP tends to suggest a bacterial infection rather than a viral one, but this is a general pattern and not a rule. This standard CRP test is different from high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), which measures very low levels and is used in assessing heart risk. Book the one your doctor has written on the prescription.
Price: the CRP Test (C-Reactive Protein) costs ₹320 at Pure Bliss (MRP ₹400), with the sample collected at our Action Area 2, New Town centre or at your home.
Who this test is for
- Fever, especially when the doctor wants to judge how serious an infection may be
- Follow-up of a known infection to see if treatment is working
- Joint pain and swelling where an inflammatory arthritis is suspected
- Monitoring of long-term inflammatory conditions, as advised
How to prepare, the sample, and when to expect the report
Preparation
No fasting or special preparation is needed. Tell us about any recent surgery, injury or vaccination, as these can raise CRP for a short time.
Sample
Blood, from a vein in the arm (serum).
Reporting time
Morning samples are reported the same day; later samples by the next day.
Reading the result
As commonly used guidance, many laboratories treat a CRP below about 6 to 10 mg/L as within normal limits, but the exact cut-off depends on the laboratory and method. Your own report’s range and your doctor’s reading take priority over these general figures. Reference ranges differ between laboratories, so your report lists the laboratory’s own range beside each value. A result outside the range does not always mean illness; ask your doctor to explain it.
- Centre or home collection
- NABL-accredited Redcliffe Labs collection centre
- How collection works →
The CRP Test (C-Reactive Protein) can be booked at the clinic in Action Area 2 or with a home collection from 7:30 AM. Patients come to us from Action Area 1, Action Area 3, Rajarhat, Chinar Park, Salt Lake Sector V, Sukhobrishti and Eco Park.