C-reactive protein test

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How you prepare

By Mayo Clinic staff

There are no special preparations for a CRP test. However, if your doctor is checking your CRP level to find out your heart attack risk, you may need other blood tests that would require you to fast or follow other instructions. Talk to your doctor to see if you'll need any additional blood tests that will be done at the same time as your CRP test.

Some medications — such as birth control pills; statins; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others); and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) — can affect your CRP level. Tell your doctor if you take these medications regularly.

What you can expect Risks
References
  1. Greenland P, et al. ACCF/AHA guideline for assessment of cardiovascular risk in asymptomatic adults: A report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2010;122:e584.
  2. Using nontraditional risk factors in coronary heart disease risk assessment. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf09/riskcoronaryhd/coronaryhdrs.htm. Accessed Oct. 4, 2011.
  3. Morrow DA. C-reactive protein in cardiovascular disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 4, 2011.
  4. Morrow DA. Screening for cardiovascular disease with C-reactive protein. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 4, 2011.
  5. hs-CRP. Lab Tests Online. http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/hscrp/tab/test#. Accessed Oct. 4, 2011.
  6. Abd TT, et al. The role of C-reactive protein as a risk predictor of coronary atherosclerosis: Implications from the JUPITER trial. Current Atherosclerosis Reports. 2011;13:154.
  7. Laboratory reference values. C-reactive protein, high sensitivity values. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. July 2011.
MY01018 Dec. 16, 2011

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