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Factors that may interfere with the accuracy of a C-reactive protein (CRP) or a high sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) assay include:
- Diet. Patients will be advised not to eat or drink anything for 12 hours prior to testing.
- Pregnancy. Women in the last half of the pregnancy cycle will have some CRP in their blood, which is normal.
- Stress. Periods of psychological stress can mildly increase CRP levels.
- Exercise. Strenuous exercise can moderately increase CRP levels.
- Intrauterine devices (IUDs). Devices that are inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. IUDs can sometimes cause inflammation, which will mildly increase CRP levels.
In addition, taking some types of the following medications may affect CRP test results:
- Statins. Cholesterol-reducing medications that are often considered a first line of treatment for patients with high cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolemia). Statins have been found to reduce CRP blood levels.
- Corticosteroids. Anti-inflammatory medications containing steroids that are similar to the naturally occurring hormone cortisone can inhibit or reduce the inflammatory response.
- Birth control pills. Medications that alter the reproductive cycle of women to prevent pregnancy. These medications may result in a false-positive CRP test (i.e., the test results suggest that inflammation is present when it actually is not). Similarly, estrogen-replacement therapy to treat the symptoms of menopause has also been found to elevate CRP levels.
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