What Is A C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test?

What Is A C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test? (0:33)

The C-reactive protein (CRP) test is a measure of vascular inflammation, which can lead to many conditions including heart disease. Internal medicine specialist Keith Roach, MD, describes why the test is important and what the results indicate.

Read Transcript

The C-Reactive protein test is a measure of vascular inflammation. Inflammation is an important part of the genesis of many diseases especially heart disease, but may be cancer as well. The C-Reactive protein test is a blood test that can be done at the same time you get a cholesterol test and like a cholesterol test, it gives an idea of your risk for developing heart disease.

The combination of a C-Reactive Protein test on a cholesterol test gives a better information than either of them.

Keith Roach, MD

See All

About Keith Roach, MD

Keith Roach, MD, is chief medical officer of Sharecare and a long-standing member of its Scientific Advisory Board. He was also part of the original scientific team, led by Mike Roizen, MD, that developed and patented the RealAge Test.

View Profile

What Is A C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test?