C-reactive protein (CRP, CRP) is a laboratory test that helps diagnose inflammatory processes in the body. C-reactive protein is actively released by the body in response to even minor inflammation in the acute phase, and this is recorded in the laboratory - the test has high sensitivity. At the same time, the blood test for C-reactive protein is characterized by low specificity - it makes it possible to record the fact of inflammation, but does not provide any information about the nature or localization of the inflammatory process. Therefore, this analysis is often included in a set of diagnostic measures, but it is rarely prescribed independently, in isolation from other laboratory tests.

The synthesis of C-reactive protein is provided by the liver, which increases its production already 6 hours after the start of the inflammatory process, often before the first symptoms of the disease appear. In 24-48 hours, the level of C-reactive protein in the blood can increase 10-100 times. An elevated level of CRP is recorded even before the appearance of the first signs of the inflammatory process, which are noticeable to an ordinary person - pain, increased body temperature, etc.