C-reactive protein, or CRP, is made by your liver and rises when there is inflammation in your body. It is a sensitive signal, but it does not say where the inflammation is. Here is how to read it.
C-reactive protein is a substance your liver releases into the blood when there is inflammation in the body. Because it goes up in response to many kinds of inflammation, from infection to injury to chronic conditions, CRP is a sensitive but non-specific marker. It is measured in mg/L.
A higher CRP tells you that inflammation is likely present somewhere, but on its own it does not tell you the cause or the location. There is also a high-sensitivity version, hs-CRP, used in a different context related to heart-disease risk. Your clinician interprets which test you had and what the level means alongside your symptoms.
An elevated CRP can accompany infections, injuries, and inflammatory or autoimmune conditions, among many other causes. Because it is non-specific, it is most useful as one piece of information rather than a diagnosis. Your clinician uses it together with your history, examination, and other tests.
Upload your lab report and Mednex reads your CRP in plain language alongside your other markers, and tracks it over time.
Decode my labsContent last reviewed 9 July 2026. Reference ranges vary by laboratory; always read your results against the range printed on your own report.
This page explains a common lab marker in general terms using public information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and other NIH sources. It is educational and is not a diagnosis or medical advice. Reference ranges differ between laboratories and the meaning of a result depends on your age, sex, medications, and overall health. Always discuss your own results with the clinician who ordered them.