What is CRP?
C-reactive protein (CRP) is primarily produced by your liver, and levels increase when there’s inflammation in the body. Your liver will release CRP into your bloodstream shortly after inflammation – such as the onset of an infection or injury to tissue. You may also produce CRP in the long term if you are at risk of heart disease or certain other chronic conditions. This is why it can be difficult know about these risks without doing a test.
A raised or high CRP level is often the first sign of infection or inflammation – elevated C-reactive protein levels can even precede other symptoms like pain or fever. So, taking a CRP blood test means you may be able to check for markers of a range of infections and other conditions.