C-Reactive Protein, High Sensitivity

Message

Specimens from patients receiving anticoagulant or thrombolytic therapy may take longer to complete their clotting processes. Fibrin clots may form in these sera and the clots could cause erroneous test results.

Test Code

CRPHS

Alias/See Also

Epic: LAB2233

C Reactive Protein (CRP), Cardiac
C Reactive Protein, High Sensitivity
C-Reactive Prot, High Sens, Serum
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
C-Reactive Protein, Cardio
C-Reactive Protein, Sensitive
Cardio C-Reactive Protein
CRP Cardiac
CRP, High Sensitivity
CRP, Highly Sensitive, (hs-CRP), Serum
CRP, Ultra-Sensitive, Serum
High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP)
Protein, C-Reactive
Sensitive C-Reactive Protein
Ultra-Sensitive C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

Preferred Specimen

Specimen Type: Serum
Collection Container: Serum gel
Specimen Volume: 3 mL

Minimum Volume

0.25 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

Specimen Type: Plasma
Collection Container: Green top (Lithium heparin)

Instructions

Centrifuge and separate cells after clot formation and within 4 hours of collection.

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 15 days
Refrigerated: 2 months
Frozen: 3 years

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Unlabeled, mislabeled, wrong tube type, hemolyzed, visually lipemic, QNS, exceeds specimen stability requirements.

Methodology

Turbidimetric/Immunoturbidimetric

Setup Schedule

Daily

Report Available

Same day

Limitations

CRP is not a substitute for traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
Acute coronary syndrome management should not depend on CRP measurements.
Patients with persistently unexplained CRP levels above 1.0 mg/dL should be evaluated for noncardiovascular etiologies.

Reference Range

≤ 0.5 mg/dL

Clinical Significance

C-reactive protein is an acute phase protein whose concentration rises non-specifically in response to inflammation. CRP is seen to increase as a result of the inflammatory process, most notably in response to pneumococcal (bacterial) infection, histolytic disease, and a variety of other disease states. CRP is used as a marker or general diagnostic indicator of infections and inflammation, in addition to serving as a monitor of patient response to pharmacological therapy and surgery.

Performing Laboratory
Inova Laboratories
2832 Juniper Street
Fairfax, VA 22031

Last Updated: March 6, 2023
Last Review: N. Wolford, March 6, 2023

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.