CRP blood test parameters

[stephwest]

Hi went to new Dr today with latest blood test results the CRP (inflammation) used to be 4-12mm normal but he told me the new normal is <3 (3 or less) and has set pred at 20mg per day and MTX at 25mg per week.
Please come back with your normal CRP that your DR is happy with.
This is in Ireland/UK may be different in your country.
Many thanks
Stephen (distraught as had got pred down to 7.5mg and the higher dose makes me feel lousy)

[Debbie C]

Hey Stephen ,so sorry to hear that you had to go up on your meds. I noticed that it differs in different parts of the states but in Ohio ,my lab, goes 0.0 -0.4 is the normal range. My last result was 0.1. What was yours that he upped it so much ?:sad:

[stephwest]

Hi Deb
The last CRP was 9
Thanks
Stephen

[pberggren1]

Hmm, I don't understand why he upped your pred then.

[Pete]

At Ohio State, the desired range is no more than 10 mg/L. My latest was 9.80.

[Christina32]

Our range here in BC, Canada is <5. There was no concern from my doctors at 17. I myself wonder how high a cold/flu can make it go....

[pberggren1]

My CRP was over 250 and My ESR was over 300. Both too high to report.

[Alysia]

My CRP was over 250 and My ESR was over 300. Both too high to report.
:w00t::w00t::w00t:

[stephwest]

Hi Phil
What is to high to report ? was that now or 2003?
Is your CRP based on mm/1st hour5 (whatever that means)
Mine is 9 mm/1st hour5 and ESR is 13 mm/hr (whatever that means)
Can you untangle this jargan Phil
All best
Stephen

[stephwest]

At Ohio State, the desired range is no more than 10 mg/L. My latest was 9.80.

Hi Pete
What is that level in mm/1st hour5 (whatever that means)
All best
Stephen

[pberggren1]

The CRP and ESR were both over the highest values they report at that lab. It was about 2 or 3 years ago I think. I think your CRP and ESR are within range and nothing to be concerned about too much. Always go by symptoms first. How do you feel? But having said that, one must always do regular labs as well. I know a few on here that don't but they really should. Sometimes labs can indicate a flare up. It caught an early flare for me once.

[stephwest]

Thanks Phil
What are you current CRP and ESR and what MTX and PRED are you on now?
All b
Steph

[pberggren1]

My CRP is 18 and ESR is 6 from yesterday. I am Imuran but went off it on my own a couple weeks back because of lung infection. I will start it again tomorrow at 50mg.

[mishb]

My CRP reads as 18.5 and the average is 0.00-10.0 mg/L
Pathology reports as mild inflammation only.

ESR is 33 and the average is 3-12 mm/hr

I would think that yours are within an acceptable range Stephen :biggrin1:

[Pete]

Hi Pete
What is that level in mm/1st hour5 (whatever that means)
All best
Stephen

I think you're confusing CRP and Sed Rate. At OSU, the standard for Sed Rate is <20 mm/hr.

[stephwest]

I think you're confusing CRP and Sed Rate. At OSU, the standard for Sed Rate is <20 mm/hr.

Hi Pete many thanks we call the sed rate ESR in Ireland and the normal range is 5-19 mm/hr
The CRP is measured in mm/1st hour5 ( don't know what the "5" is could be typo) was 4-12mm now altered to <3
Any light on that stuff?
All best
Steph

[mishb]

I googled this, which I'm sure you have too.
Lots of results come up with CRP mm/1st hour but there is nothing with a 5 on the end.
It is probably a typo like you say or maybe it means they tested it 5 times ?? :unsure:

I guess you could phone the pathology dept and ask them if it is a typo or not

[windchime]

You could take your lab report to the lab that drew your blood and ask them to explain it or check with your dr's office. I'm sure they would be more than willing to help you understand it. Everything here is going to be confusing as everyone is from a different area/country. Sometimes it's like comparing apples to oranges. Google it for your country also. That's what I do a lot of times when I get my blood report.

[Pete]

Hi Pete many thanks we call the sed rate ESR in Ireland and the normal range is 5-19 mm/hr
The CRP is measured in mm/1st hour5 ( don't know what the "5" is could be typo) was 4-12mm now altered to <3
Any light on that stuff?
All best
Steph

Steph,

I'm clueless about how your CRP is measured. CRP is a measure of the volume of the protein in the blood. Sed rate (ESR) is a measure of distance over time.

[KimH]

The values assigned to each measure vary from not only country to country but from hospital to hospital in the same local. I thought I would chart my labs but it would make no sense since the ranges of normal varied.

[drz]

Sed rate requires some human assessment as it is timed measure. The sedimentation rate (sed rate) blood test measures how quickly red blood cells (erythrocytes) settle in a test tube. The labs will tell you the reference range they used for your test as it varies with age and sex and is influenced by many other factors too.

See this link for values and more info:

Sedimentation Rate (Sed Rate) (http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/sedimentation-rate?page=2)

The CRP is generally more useful for determining current levle of inflammation.