C-reactive protein (CRP) is a serum protein, which is synthesized in the liver. Its rate of synthesis and secretion increases within hours of an acute injury or the onset of inflammation and may reach as high as 20 times the normal levels.Elevated serum concentration of CRP is an unequivocal evidence of an active tissue damage process and CRP measurement thus provides a simple screening test for organic disorders. Apart from indicating inflammatory disorders, CRP measurement helps in differential diagnosis, in the management of neonatal septicaemia and meningitis where standard microbiological investigations are difficult.Its use in postoperative surveillance is of great importance. CRP levels invariably rise after major surgery but fall to normal within 7-10 days.Absence of this fall is indicative of possible septic or inflammatory postoperative complications.
Serum CRP measurement also provides useful information in patients with myocardial infarction there being an excellent correlation beMeen peak levels of CRP and Creatine phosphokinase (CPK).INSIGHT-CRP detects the presence of C-reactive protein (CRP) in human serum, qualitatively, at concentrations as low as 6
mg/L(0.6 mg/dl).