C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Conventional, Blood - Saskatoon

Specimen Information

Specimen types accepted

• Plasma

Specimen collection container

• Preferred collection container: Light Green (Lithium Heparin gel)

Required volume

• Optimal volume: 4.5 mL Full collection tube 
• Minimum volume: 1.0 mL 

(Submitting the minimum volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory/reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum volume may require a second collection.) 

• Pediatric volume: 400 µL (0.4 mL)

Transport and stability

• 4 hours on cells 
• 2 months at 2 to 8˚

Rejection criteria

• Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Acceptance and Rejection Criteria

Testing Information

Clinical interpretation

• Not suitable for cardiovascular risk assessment; if querying cardiovascular risk assessment, order high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) 
• May be elevated in trauma, surgery, malignancy

Performance

Methodology

• Particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay (Roche CRP4)

Days/times performed

Availability	24 hours a day
Testing site	SPH, RUH, SCH

 

Maximum laboratory time

Results reporting

• In Hospital reported within 2 hours
• Community urgent and inter-hospital reported within 4 hours
• Community routine reported within 24 hours

Specimen retention time

• 3 days

Other information

Analytical measurement range 

• 3-400 mg/

Last Updated: September 30, 2026