What is CRP Test? When it is prescribed?
The C-responsive protein (CRP) test estimates the convergence of CRP, a protein that is manufactured in your liver, in your blood. During scenes of intense inflammation or with chronic inflammation, your liver reacts by delivering CRP into the blood systems. Inflammation can lead to the risk of heart diseases. CRP cooperates with your body’s framework, a piece of your immune system’s protection mechanism that disposes of microorganisms like bacteria and virus.
In a scenario when there is a case of tissue damage with inflammation such in a case of surgery or a case where the lungs are affected, and especially in COVID-19 cases, a CRP test is prescribed.
What is the normal range of CRP and why it is increased in cases of COVID-19?
Your CRP levels ought to be ordinary on the off chance that you don’t have any diseases or persistent inflammatory conditions. Remember the ordinary reference range regularly changes between labs. A high-sensitivity CRP test can even distinguish levels underneath 7.0 mg/L. Should one need to know, a normal CRP range is 6.0mg/L.
In cases of COVID-19, our immune system is activated and it starts damaging the cells which have been affected by the virus, especially the ones in our lungs. CRP, as an indication marker, increases its levels in our body to signify tissue damage. However, it is not guaranteed that your CRP levels are high even with COVID-19. There are COVID-19 cases where the patients have normal CRP levels. It happens in cases where the patient is asymptomatic or has minor symptoms.
Are there any other diseases or cases where we can notice a rise in CRP levels?
One thing we need to understand is that CRP level increases in almost every case of tissue damage or inflammation. We can notice a rise in CRP levels in following cases:
- A person who’s had or has been going through surgery
- During pregnancy
- A lady using contraceptive pills
- In cases of chronic urine infection
- Any other lung disorder, excluding COVID-19
- A person suffering from joint pains
Are there any pre-requisites to conduct a CRP Test like fasting?
These are nothing but myths about CRP tests. One does not need to follow any specific steps of measure before a CRP test like fasting. Doctors may prefer morning samples for the test but it is not really a pre-requisite for the test.
How can we be sure that our CRP levels are high because of COVID-19 and not because of an earlier case?
If you’re feeling the symptoms of COVID-19, it is advisable to get over with two tests; CBC and CRP Test. There are so many steps in CBC which are helpful in early detection. As for CRP, it is not something that detectable at the earliest. For example, if you were already suffering from on the cases we mentioned above and you naturally have a high CRP level. If you then start discovering COVID-19 symptoms, because of the aforementioned two test, you gain an understanding that the rise in CRP level is not because of COVID-19 and because of pre-acquired problem.
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How is a CRP Test done in a lab? What are the multiple methods to perform this test?
For a CRP Test, we naturally need serum sample which is extracted from the blood using centrifuge. A centrifuge is a device which is used to separate numerous components of any fluid by spinning it at a high pace. Once the blood vial comes out of the centrifuge, we can clearly see that the blood clots in the bottom and the serum we need for the test at the top.
There are two methods to conduct a CRP Test; semi-quantitative and quantitative based on latex turbidometry. Semi-quantitative test can be performed using a microscopic slide by diluting the serum in different ratios such as 1:2, 1:4 or even 1:8.
When we need to figure out if the CRP level of an individual is above or below the average 6.0mg/L, we conduct qualitative tests. And when we need to figure the exact level of CRP, we perform quantitative tests.
Why is CRP Test so important with regards to pre, mid or post-COVID?
What we have learnt so far is that the increase in CRP levels is not a sudden spike but more of a gradual accent. One should take a CRP test pre-COVID-19 just to gain an understanding about their CRP levels and its baseline even when there is little or no damage to lungs.
During COVID-19, it is as crucial as it is before to take a CRP test because if there is a consistent decline or incline in your CRP levels, the doctors can assume that the patient is getting severe or is getting better respectably.
We can perform one another CRP test after someone has recovered from COVID-19 to understand the damages, the recovery rate and the functioning of the lungs after the virus has done affecting the lungs.
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