Persistent low-grade inflammation is implicated in cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, cognitive decline and frailty. It is also silent, which is why it needs measuring.
What it covers
- High-sensitivity CRP
- Interleukin-6
- Homocysteine
- Ferritin as an inflammatory as well as an iron marker
- White cell differential and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio
How it is performed
Part of the standard venous draw.
How to prepare
Fast for ten to twelve hours, and avoid intense exercise for 48 hours — hard training transiently raises hs-CRP and will make a healthy result look concerning. Postpone the test if you have had an infection in the past fortnight.
How we read it
A single raised hs-CRP means little; a persistently raised one means a great deal. Where it is high, we look for the driver — visceral fat, periodontal disease, poor sleep, gut inflammation — rather than treating the number.