What does a C-reactive protein (CRP) test measure?

The C-reactive protein (CRP) test specifically measures the level of inflammation in the body. CRP is a substance produced by the liver in response to inflammation. When inflammation occurs, CRP levels rise, making this test a valuable marker for detecting inflammation due to various conditions, such as infections or autoimmune diseases. Elevated CRP levels can indicate the presence of inflammatory processes and help in monitoring the response to treatment or the progression of disease.

Understanding inflammation's role in health and disease is crucial, as it plays a part in various clinical scenarios ranging from infections to chronic inflammatory conditions. The other choices, such as levels of hormones, blood sugar, or electrolytes, do not pertain specifically to CRP and relate to different areas of testing and diagnostics in clinical chemistry.