Is CRP blood test is necessary ?

CRP blood test also known as the C-reactive protein blood test is considered an “acute phase protein” identified in 1930 as an early indicator of infectious or inflammatory conditions. Firstly, Tillet and Frances studied CRP, who placed a substance in the serum of patients acutely infected with pneumococcal pneumonia that form a precipitate when combined with polysaccharide C of Streptococcus pneumonia. It was found that this reaction was not unique to pneumococcal pneumonia but could also be found with a variety of other acute infections.

A  CRP blood test measures the amount of C-reactive protein (CRP) in our blood. The liver produces the CRP  protein which is responsible for inflammation. If CRP is high, then there will be inflammation in the body.CRP blood tests can be used for diagnosing medical conditions that cause inflammation. The CRP produced in the liver is a response to the activity of white blood cells that fight infection and inflammation in the body.CRP level can also tell if the level is acute or chronic. Higher the CRP level greater the inflammation. CRP level varies from person to person, but it is dangerous if more than 2 milligrams per liter.

CRP blood test can help identify a wide array of medical conditions including allergic reactions, asthma, autoimmune diseases, bacterial infection, bronchitis, cancer, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, heart attack, heart disease including atherosclerosis or myocarditis high blood pressure (hypertension), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), pneumonia, systemic fungal infections, viral infections.

CPR blood test can predict covid 19. Researchers have found that people with COVID-19 who have higher CRP levels have an increased chance of developing severe disease. High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) test is a variation of CRP. It is also a simple blood test. It measures very low amounts of CRP to help predict a person’s risk of heart attack and stroke. The hs-CRP blood test is most useful for the person who has a 10%-20% chance of heart attack within the next 10 years. The test is not helpful for people with a higher or lower risk.

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Materials required during CRP blood test:

Materials required to perform the CRP test are laboratory equipment, positive and negative control, a serum sample, a glass slide with six reaction circles, mixing sticks, a test tube, saline, and a uniform suspension of polystyrene latex particles coated with anti-CRP antibodies necessary to detect CRP levels using the agglutination test method.
hs-CRP level:
Lower than 1.0 mg/L – the low risk of cardiovascular disease.
Equals to 1.0 mg/L and 3.0 mg/L – moderate risk of cardiovascular disease.
More than 3.0 mg/L – the high risk of cardiovascular disease.

The procedure of CRP blood test:

Before the Test

Before getting a CRP test,  your healthcare provider should know about any medications that you take, since some can affect CRP levels.

Location and Timing

The CRP test is occur in a doctor’s office, or at a local hospital or clinic. Blood draws maximum takes less than five minutes. The person will be able to leave as soon as the test is complete as long as they are not feeling faint or sick.

What to Wear during CRP blood test

A person should wear a short-sleeved shirt for the blood draw. Avoid tight sleeves clothes that are difficult to roll or push up.

Foods and Drink

A CRP test doesn’t require fasting beforehand. However, many other blood tests require fasting such as cholesterol tests. Talk with the healthcare provider or the lab to double-check.

Cost and Health Insurance

A CRP blood test is not that much expensive—around $12 to $16, on average. If the person has health insurance, their plan should cover the cost at least in this part.

What to Bring

A person who is going to do his /her CPR should bring  ID cards  (such as your driver’s license) as well as your insurance card and an approved form of payment if needed. Check with the lab in advance to find out what kinds of payments they accept.

Pre-Test

A person should fill out routine paperwork before a test.

Process

The CRP test takes just a few minutes. Firstly sit on the chair. The technician will ask a person which arm you want to choose and blood will draw from a given vein by following steps:

•  Firstly, an elastic band is tied around your upper arm to help the vein swell.
• Clean the surface of the skin with alcohol.
• Insert a small needle in the vein. A person may feel a slight pinch or poke. If the pain is considerable, let the technician know.
• Blood is drawn into a vacuum tube via a thin tube connected to the needle.
• After enough blood is taken, we can remove the elastic band and needle.
• Pressure is placed on the puncture site with a cotton ball, after which an adhesive bandage is applied.

Post-Test

If a person feels better he/she may leave the place.

Methods of CRP blood test

A lab technician, a nurse, a phlebotomist, or a professional mainly performs the CPR test. In this article, we have outlined the procedure of the latex agglutination test both for a qualitative method as well as a semi-quantitative method.

QUALITATIVE METHOD

1.1- Take all reagents and samples to room temperature before the test starts and mix latex reagent gently before use. Do not dilute the controls and serum.
1.2- Place one drop of serum, positive control, and negative control on a separate glass slide using a (disposable pipette) dropper.
1.3- Add one drop of CRP latex reagent to the test specimen (serum) on each slide.
1.5-Using the mixing stick mix the serum and CRP latex reagent uniformly over the entire circle. Immediately start a stopwatch, and rock the slide gently back and forth for 2 minutes.
1.6- Observe the clump (agglutination) macroscopically.

SEMI-QUANTITATIVE METHOD

2.1-Prepare the dilution of samples in ratios of 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, 1:32, 1:64, and so on by using normal saline.
2.2-Pipette each dilution of the serum sample and control (positive control and negative control) onto a separate reaction circle.
2.3- Add one drop of CRP latex reagent to each drop of diluted serum (sample) and controls.
2.4-Using the mixing stick mix the sample and latex reagent uniformly over the entire circle.
2.5.Immediately start a stopwatch and rock the slide gently back and forth (120 rpm/minute) for 2 minutes.
2.6- Observe the clump (agglutination) macroscopically.

RESULT

The CRP  unit is measured in mg/dL or mg/L. It takes a few days after the procedure. Results equal to or greater than 2mg/L are considered to be high. High CPR test results in inflammation. It may cause serious infection, injury, and chronic disease CRP levels may be higher in females, in those patients who are on hormone replacement therapy, and in those with high body mass index. Insomnia and depression can occur due to mild CRP.

Agglutination indicates a positive reaction. A false negative result may occur when there is an excess of antigen. The presence of agglutination indicates a CRP concentration equal to or greater than the reagent sensitivity (mg/L CRP).

Uses of CRP blood test :

CRP is a useful marker for monitoring disease.

1. CRP testing is useful for the diagnosis of pyelonephritis versus cystitis, bacterial versus viral infections, necrotizing pancreatitis versus edematous interstitial pancreatitis
2. CRP test is used for following disease prognosis and the effectiveness of therapy in several chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis).
3. The activity of infections can be monitored by CRP, which requires long-term antibiotics and which is difficult to monitor clinically.

SUMMARY

The C-reactive protein test measures the amount of C-reactive protein (CRP) in your blood. The liver produces the CRP  protein which is responsible for inflammation.CRP tests can help to diagnose many medical diseases. Higher the C reactive protein more the inflammation. CRP level varies from person to person, but it is dangerous if more than 2 milligrams per liter. Value of CPR
-Lower than 1.0 mg/L – the low risk of cardiovascular disease.
-Equals to 1.0 mg/L and 3.0 mg/L – moderate risk of cardiovascular disease.
-More than 3.0 mg/L – the high risk of cardiovascular disease.
CRP test will occur with the help of two methods qualitative or semi-quantitative. The physician will give the result after a few days. Insomnia and depression can occur due to mild CRP.CRP quantifies early detection of bacterial infections.

                  EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIFE

Reference:

1. Luan, Y. Y., Yin, C. H., & Yao, Y. M. (2021). Update advances on C-reactive protein in COVID-19 and other viral infections. Frontiers in Immunology, 3153 (Read more- Frontiers | Update Advances on C-Reactive Protein in COVID-19 and Other Viral Infections (frontiersin.org))