C-Reactive Protein Test

A CRP test is most commonly done to monitor the activity of a range of inflammatory conditions. Some of these conditions are polymyalgia rheumatica, inflammatory bowel disease, temporal arteritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. This test can also be used to monitor your response to cancer treatment. It may be used to monitor your risk for infection after a major surgery. This test can monitor your risk for infection after a surgical procedure. If CRP levels stay elevated 3 days after surgery, an infection may be present. It can monitor cancer treatment or treatment of an infection. CRP levels elevate quickly and then become normal quickly if you are responding to treatment measures. The CRP test can evaluate your risk for having a sudden heart problem, such as unstable angina or a heart attack.