US Medical Term · tests
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Proteína C reactiva
Also: PCR (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | C-Reactive Protein (CRP) |
| Spanish (Español) | Proteína C reactiva |
| Chinese (中文) | C反應蛋白 |
| Korean (한국어) | C반응성 단백질 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Protein C phản ứng |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | C-Reactive Protein |
| Portuguese (Português) | Proteína C-reativa (PCR) |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | โปรตีนซีรีแอคทีฟ |
| Japanese (日本語) | C反応性タンパク |
What it means
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein your liver releases into the blood in response to inflammation or infection. A CRP blood test measures how much of this protein is circulating. A standard CRP test detects significant inflammation from infections, autoimmune flares, or tissue injury. A high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) test detects much smaller amounts and is used to assess cardiovascular risk. Blood is drawn from a vein in your arm and no special preparation is needed. CRP levels can rise and fall rapidly — within hours — making this test useful for tracking how well treatment is controlling inflammation. See also: CRP test entry for hs-CRP specifics.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My CRP level is elevated — what does that mean for my health?
Mi proteína C reactiva está elevada — ¿qué significa eso para mi salud?
Is there a difference between a regular CRP and a high-sensitivity CRP test?
¿Hay diferencia entre una PCR regular y una PCR de alta sensibilidad?
How quickly does CRP go down once inflammation or infection is treated?
¿Qué tan rápido baja la PCR una vez que se trata la inflamación o infección?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026