What Does hs-CRP Mean on a Blood Test?

What it means

C-reactive protein (CRP) is made by the liver when there is inflammation in the body. The standard CRP test is designed to pick up the large rises seen with infections and flare-ups. The high-sensitivity version, hs-CRP, measures the same protein but can detect much smaller amounts.

hs-CRP is mainly used as one piece of a heart and blood vessel risk check. Long-term, low-level inflammation plays a part in the build-up of fatty plaques in arteries. A doctor may add hs-CRP to cholesterol results when deciding how strongly to focus on lowering heart risk. It is usually best measured when you are well, because a cold, injury or flare of another condition can raise it for a while.

hs-CRP and ordinary CRP measure the same protein, but they are used for different questions. Ordinary CRP is mostly used to look for or follow infection and inflammation, while hs-CRP is used for heart risk in people who seem well.

Where you may see it

• Heart risk or "cardiac risk" panels printed with cholesterol results
• Health check-up packages at private clinics
• Cardiology clinic letters discussing prevention
• Lab reports that print risk bands next to the result rather than a simple range