The full form of CRP is C-reactive protein.
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein produced by the liver. According to the provided reference, the level of CRP in the blood increases when there is inflammation in the body. A simple blood test can measure your CRP levels.
There are different types of CRP tests, including:
- Standard CRP test: Measures general levels of CRP in the blood.
- High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) test: This is a more sensitive test that can detect lower levels of CRP compared to a standard test.
The hs-CRP test is especially useful for assessing cardiovascular risk, because even slight elevations in CRP can be an indicator of inflammation that can contribute to heart disease. The reference mentions that a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) test is more sensitive than a standard C-reactive protein test.
