CRP

Medical abbreviation · Laboratory Test

CRP stands for C-reactive protein, a laboratory test abbreviation.

Acute-phase protein made by the liver in response to interleukin-6 during infection, inflammation or tissue injury. Levels can rise a thousandfold within 6 to 48 hours and fall quickly once the cause resolves, making CRP useful for tracking bacterial infections, inflammatory arthritis flares and response to treatment.

Example: CRP fell from 210 to 45 mg/L after three days of IV antibiotics.

Usage notes

Named for its ability to bind the C-polysaccharide of pneumococcus, it was discovered by Tillett and Francis in 1930. Units cause confusion: many US labs report mg/dL while most others use mg/L, and 10 mg/L equals 1 mg/dL. Standard CRP differs from high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), which measures low concentrations for cardiovascular risk assessment.

Related abbreviations

More laboratory test abbreviations

• CLIA – Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments
• CMP – Comprehensive metabolic panel
• CO2 – Total carbon dioxide (serum bicarbonate)
• CPK – Creatine phosphokinase
• Cr – Creatinine
• CrCl – Creatinine clearance
• CSF – Cerebrospinal fluid
• DAT – Direct antiglobulin test
• DBili – Direct bilirubin
• dsDNA – Anti-double-stranded DNA antibody
• EDTA – Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
• eGFR – Estimated glomerular filtration rate

See all 135 laboratory test abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.