HS-CRP Test

High Sensitivity C Reactive Protein Test in Delhi, Gurgaon

A brief on High Sensitivity C Reactive protein

HS-CRP is a non-specific marker of inflammation & more sensitive (to detect lower values) As compared to the regular C Reactive Protein. This parameter may rise due to anything that causes any tissue injury, a few of the examples of which can be even something as trivial as an ankle sprain to any infection or disease. Elderly individuals also have been seen to have a non-specific increase in HSCRP. This parameter is also very useful for assessing the risk of any future cardiac event. Relative cardiovascular risk is low if the HS-CRP value is less than 0.1 mg/dL, moderate if 0.1-0.3 mg/dL, and high if 0.3 mg/dL. Your physician may use this parameter’s trend to monitor the progression of a specific condition.

Causes of Derangement:

• Infections: Both bacterial and viral infections can cause a temporary increase in CRP levels.
• Inflammatory Diseases: Chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or inflammatory bowel disease can lead to consistently high CRP levels.
• Tissue Injury: CRP levels can rise after trauma, surgery, or injury to tissues.
• Heart Disease: CRP is sometimes used as a marker for cardiovascular risk, as it can be elevated in individuals with a higher risk of heart disease.
• Autoimmune Disorders: Conditions where the immune system attacks healthy tissues can result in increased CRP levels.
• Chronic Inflammation: Conditions such as obesity and chronic infections can lead to chronic low-level inflammation and higher CRP levels. Injuries - Any injury can also cause inflammation that can increase CRP levels

What is Complete Blood Count?

Complete blood count (CBC) is an important initial test which checks the number and type of blood cells. It is helpful in understanding the overall health condition and diagnosing disease conditions such as anaemia, infection, inflammatory conditions and bleeding disorders.

We, at Dr. Dangs Lab counter check all the CBCs manually after processing in automated counters for accurate reporting. This also helps the pathologist to identify any incidental finding that guides the physician to take appropriate treatment decisions.

1. Haemoglobin: is a pigment present in the red blood cells. It carries oxygen from the lungs to various body tissues. Deficiency of Haemoglobin may be indicative of reduced oxygen carrying capacity of blood. Reduced haemoglobin levels indicate anaemia.
2. Total Leucocyte Count: is the count of white blood cells per unit volume of blood. Increased total leucocyte count may be indicative of infections or inflammation, while decreased total leucocyte count may cause a decrease in the body’s ability to fight diseases.
3. Red Blood Cell Count: In this test the total number of Red Blood Cells (RBCs) are counted per microlitre of blood. A low or high RBC count may be indicative of various health related conditions.
4. Packed Cell Volume: The packed cell volume (PCV) is a measurement of the proportion of blood that is made up of Red blood cells. It may be indicative of dehydration, anaemia and increase in blood cells
5. MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume): is a measure of the mean size of the RBCs. It is able to assess the presence of certain types of anaemia.
6. MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hb): It is the average amount of haemoglobin in RBCs.
7. MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hb Conc.): It is the average concentration of haemoglobin in your red blood cells.
8. Red Cell Distribution Width: It measures the difference in volume and size of RBCs.
9. Platelet: Platelets are essential for blood clot formation. Too high or too low platelet count may be indicative of various health problems. A decreased platelet count is called thrombocytopenia, and is commonly caused primarily by decreased bone marrow production, certain viral fevers, and due to certain drugs. An elevated platelet count, or thrombocytosis, can also be caused primarily by bone marrow stimulation. Increased platelets may also result from an acute response to physiologic stress, such as infection or inflammation.

Differential Leucocyte Count

There are primarily five types of white blood cells, each with different functions: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils. The differential reveals if these cells are present in normal proportion to one another, or if there is presence of immature or abnormal cells. This information is helpful in diagnosing specific types of illnesses that affect the immune system.

• Neutrophil: Neutrophils increase in number and respond rapidly in inflammatory processes, tissue injury and bacterial/fungal infection.
• Lymphocyte: Lymphocytes are the WBCs that secrete antibodies, and kill virus infected cells and tumour cells. Increased levels usually indicate viral infections.
• Monocyte: Monocytes are a type of WBCs that have an important role in inflammation and fighting infections. Increased monocytes are usually indicative of viral infections.
• Eosinophil: Eosinophils are a type of WBCs that have the ability to fight allergic conditions. Normally your body has a very small number of eosinophils but they increase in number if you have allergic disorders (eg. asthma), parasitic or fungal infections or some skin diseases.
• Basophil: Basophil’s makeup only a small portion of your WBCs but play an important role in inflammatory and allergic reactions of your body. They release histamine and other chemicals. Histamine is the chemical that causes symptoms of allergy

C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test:

Measures the level of C-reactive protein in your blood.

CRP is a marker of inflammation in your body.

Helps diagnose and monitor various inflammatory conditions. Elevated CRP levels indicate the presence of inflammation in the body.

Causes of Derangement:

• Infections: Both bacterial and viral infections can cause a temporary increase in CRP levels.
• Inflammatory Diseases: Chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or inflammatory bowel disease can lead to consistently high CRP levels.
• Tissue Injury: CRP levels can rise after trauma, surgery, or injury to tissues.
• Heart Disease: CRP is sometimes used as a marker for cardiovascular risk, as it can be elevated in individuals with a higher risk of heart disease.
• Autoimmune Disorders: Conditions where the immune system attacks healthy tissues can result in increased CRP levels.
• Chronic Inflammation: Conditions such as obesity and chronic infections can lead to chronic low-level inflammation and higher CRP levels. Injuries - Any injury can also cause inflammation that can increase CRP levels

FAQ - Common Questions about CRP:

Question: What is CRP, and why is it tested?
Answer: CRP is a marker of inflammation in the body. It is tested to diagnose and monitor various medical conditions.

Question: How specific is CRP in diagnosing a particular disease?
Answer: CRP is a general marker of inflammation and not specific to a particular disease. Additional tests are often needed for a precise diagnosis.

Question: Can lifestyle factors affect CRP levels?
Answer: Yes, factors like smoking, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle can contribute to higher CRP levels.

Question: How quickly can CRP levels change in response to inflammation?
Answer: CRP levels can increase rapidly within hours of an inflammatory event and can return to normal once the inflammation subsides.

Question: What can be done to lower elevated CRP levels?
Answer: Treatment depends on the underlying cause; addressing the root issue, such as infection or chronic disease, is essential.

Question: Is CRP testing used for heart disease risk assessment?
Answer: Yes, CRP testing can be used in combination with other risk factors to assess the risk of heart disease. A test called HS CRP (high sensitivity CRP) is the relevant test while assessing cardiac health with this test.

Question: How often should I have a CRP test done if I have a chronic condition?
Answer: The frequency of testing depends on your condition and your healthcare provider’s recommendations.

Question: Are there any medications that can affect CRP levels?
Answer: Some medications, such as steroids, can lower CRP levels, while others may increase them.

Question: Can CRP levels be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment for inflammatory conditions?
Answer: Yes, CRP levels can be monitored to assess the response to treatment and disease activity in inflammatory conditions.