C-Reactive Protein (CRP) High Sensitivity, Blood – Saskatoon

Overview

Alias

• CRP
• High sensitivity CRP

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°C

Rejection criteria

• Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Acceptance and Rejection Criteria

Testing Information

Clinical interpretation

• Assessment of cardiovascular risk (low-grade inflammation) 
• Risk stratification in atherosclerosis 

Not for acute infection or inflammation

Performance

Methodology

• High-sensitivity particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay (Roche hsCRP

Days/times performed

Availability	24 hours a day
Testing site	SPH, RUH

 

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

Risk categories

• Cardiovascular risk 
  • <1.0 mg/L: Low risk 
  • 1.0–3.0 mg/L: Moderate risk 
  • >3.0 mg/L: High risk 
•  >10 mg/L: Suggests acute inflammation – order test: conventional CRP (CRP4)

Analytical measurement range

• 0.2-10 mg/L

Last Updated: September 29, 2026