A patient seated in the chair before a blood draw
In person

hs-CRP

Low-level inflammation tied to heart risk, from one blood draw.

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  • 2,000+ lab locations. Find one near you
  • Nothing due at the lab. FSA / HSA accepted
  • Ordered by a licensed clinician

At a glance

Collection
Blood draw
A standard blood draw at the lab.
Preparation
None
Nothing to do ahead of time. Water is fine.
Results
1 to 2 days
Typical turnaround after your visit.
Where
2,000+ lab locations
Nationwide, with nothing due at the lab.

About this test

hs-CRP measures C-reactive protein, an inflammation marker made by the liver, precisely in the low range. At those levels it is used as one input to heart risk, alongside cholesterol and blood pressure. A recent cold, injury, or flare can raise it for a while. No fasting is needed.

For adults 18 and older. Test availability varies by lab location.

Who should take this test?

This test is for adults who want more detail in a heart risk check-in, often alongside cholesterol testing, after a past result, or with a family history of heart disease.

Ask about this test

Not sure this is the right test?

AI-generated. For information only, not medical advice. Call 911 for an emergency.

What does this test measure?

Your result shows your level of low-grade inflammation, which can help you and a healthcare provider add detail to a heart risk conversation with your cholesterol results.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)
C-reactive protein is made by the liver in response to inflammation, infection, or injury. The high-sensitivity test measures the low levels used in heart-risk conversations. A recent cold, injury, or flare of another condition can raise it, so it is usually read when you are well.
Why it’s measured: Measures low-level inflammation used in heart-risk conversations.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Order online

    Check out here. A licensed clinician in your state reviews your order and sends it to the lab.

  2. Step 2

    Visit a lab

    Bring a photo ID to any of 2,000+ lab locations. No fasting needed, and nothing is due at the lab.

  3. Step 3

    Get your results

    Results post to your account, usually in 1 to 2 days, each number next to the lab’s reference range.

Find a lab near you

Choose from 2,000+ lab locations nationwide. Your order works at any of them.

What your results tell you

hs-CRP is reported in milligrams per liter (mg/L). The lab groups results into ranges from lower to higher heart risk.

  • Your number next to the lab’s reference range
  • Explained in plain language
  • A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test.
  • A lab report you can download and share

A high result can follow a recent infection or injury and is often repeated, so review it with a healthcare provider before any decision.

CRP or hs-CRP?

The same protein, measured for different questions.

hs-CRP

Measures CRP precisely in the low range.

Measures
Small differences in the low range
Used for
Adding detail to a heart risk conversation
Preparation
None

Clinical-grade testing, from the comfort of home.

From the lab to your report, every step of our process meets the gold standard in medical testing.

  • CLIA-certified labs

    Every lab we partner with is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, meeting both state and federal standards with regular independent inspections.

  • We protect your health data

    We protect your health data with encryption and do not sell it. Some results must be reported to public health authorities by law. See our Privacy Notice.

  • Rigorous quality assurance

    All partner labs run regular internal quality checks, participate in proficiency testing, and comply with federal and state lab regulations.

  • Clinician-reviewed reports

    Results are reviewed by an independent, licensed clinician.

Questions

Common questions.

Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.

Inflammation plays a part in how plaque builds up in arteries. hs-⁠CRP shows a steady relationship with heart risk across a wide range of values, and heart guidelines describe it as a possible risk enhancer: one more factor a healthcare provider can weigh with cholesterol, blood pressure, and history.

They measure the same protein. Standard CRP is used for the larger rises seen with infection or active inflammation. hs-⁠CRP measures precisely at low levels, which is the range used for heart risk. Standard CRP cannot measure those small differences, so the two are not interchangeable.

Anything that causes inflammation can raise hs-⁠CRP for a while, including a cold or other infection, an injury, or a flare of a joint condition. A much higher result may reflect a recent infection and is often repeated.

If you are unwell around your visit, a healthcare provider may suggest testing after you recover.

hs-⁠CRP does not show where inflammation is coming from, and it does not diagnose heart disease. It is one input to heart risk, read with cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, smoking, and family history. A healthcare provider can explain what your number means for you.

Lab tests are informational and don’t diagnose conditions on their own. Available to adults 18 and older; test availability varies by lab location. A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test. All testing is performed at CLIA-certified laboratories. Not for emergencies: if you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911.