The short answer
hs-CRP measures low-level inflammation in your body, a sign of higher heart risk. Under 1 mg/L is best.1 A cold or a hard workout can push it up for a while, so one high result isn’t the final word.1,9
Check your result
Type the number from your report. It stays on this page.
- Low Under 1.0
- Average 1.0 to 1.9
- Upper average 2.0 to 3.0
- High 3.1 to 10.0
- Over 10 10.1 or more
Enter your result to see what it means and what to do next.
Got a result from another lab? Ask Picardo about it. The app explains your results, and a physician can follow up.
Bands from the CDC and American Heart Association;1 the line at 2 is from US cholesterol guidelines.2 Over 10 usually means an infection or another inflammation.1 The bar isn’t to scale.
Low inflammation
You’re in the lowest third of adults, the group with the lowest heart risk from inflammation.1
Nothing to worry about.
- 1 Keep doing what you’re doing.
- 2 A low hs-CRP doesn’t cancel out the risk from your cholesterol, blood pressure or other factors.2
Average
You’re in the middle third of adults.1 That’s below the level of 2 that US guidelines count as a risk enhancer.2
Nothing to worry about.
- 1 Nothing to do for this result. Regular exercise, a healthy weight and not smoking keep inflammation down.1
Average, but enough to count in US guidelines
The CDC calls this average.1 But US cholesterol guidelines count 2 or more, on more than one test, as a risk enhancer: a finding that can tip a borderline decision toward a statin.2
Not a worry on its own. It matters most if your overall heart risk is borderline.
- 1 Test again in about 2 weeks, when you’re well. Guidelines look for 2 or more on two tests.1,2
- 2 Ask a clinician to estimate your 10-year heart risk. If it’s borderline, this result can be a reason to start a statin.2
- 3 Losing extra weight, regular exercise and not smoking all lower inflammation.1
High: retest to confirm
People in this band have about twice the heart risk of people under 1.1 But one result can be pushed up by a recent infection, injury or hard exercise.1,9
Worth acting on over the next few months. It isn’t urgent.
- 1 Test again in about 2 weeks, when you’re well, and average the two results.1
- 2 If it stays at 2 or more, see a clinician about your overall heart risk. If your risk is borderline, US guidelines say a high-intensity statin can be useful.2
- 3 Losing extra weight, quitting smoking and regular exercise all lower it.1,3
Over 10: usually infection or inflammation
A level this high usually means an infection, an injury or another inflammation somewhere in your body. While that’s going on, the result can’t tell you much about heart risk.1,3
Not a heart emergency. If you feel unwell, deal with that first.
- 1 Repeat the test in about 2 weeks, once you’re well.1
- 2 For heart risk, go by the lower of the two results, not the average.3
- 3 If it stays over 10, see a clinician to look for the cause, such as a long-term inflammatory condition.1
What is a normal hs-CRP level?
There’s no normal range for hs-CRP. Labs report it in three heart-risk bands, which roughly split adults into thirds:1
Low inflammation
You’re in the lowest third of adults, the group with the lowest heart risk from inflammation.1
Nothing to worry about.
- 1 Keep doing what you’re doing.
- 2 A low hs-CRP doesn’t cancel out the risk from your cholesterol, blood pressure or other factors.2
Average
You’re in the middle third of adults.1 That’s below the level of 2 that US guidelines count as a risk enhancer.2
Nothing to worry about.
- 1 Nothing to do for this result. Regular exercise, a healthy weight and not smoking keep inflammation down.1
Average, but enough to count in US guidelines
The CDC calls this average.1 But US cholesterol guidelines count 2 or more, on more than one test, as a risk enhancer: a finding that can tip a borderline decision toward a statin.2
Not a worry on its own. It matters most if your overall heart risk is borderline.
High: retest to confirm
People in this band have about twice the heart risk of people under 1.1 But one result can be pushed up by a recent infection, injury or hard exercise.1,9
Worth acting on over the next few months. It isn’t urgent.
- 1 Test again in about 2 weeks, when you’re well, and average the two results.1
- 2 If it stays at 2 or more, see a clinician about your overall heart risk. If your risk is borderline, US guidelines say a high-intensity statin can be useful.2
- 3 Losing extra weight, quitting smoking and regular exercise all lower it.1,3
Over 10: usually infection or inflammation
A level this high usually means an infection, an injury or another inflammation somewhere in your body. While that’s going on, the result can’t tell you much about heart risk.1,3
Not a heart emergency. If you feel unwell, deal with that first.
What is hs-CRP?
Think of CRP as a smoke alarm. It tells you there’s inflammation somewhere in your body, but not where it is or what started it.
CRP, or C-reactive protein, is made by your liver when there’s inflammation in your body. It shoots up with an infection or injury. An hs-CRP test picks up the much smaller, steady amounts that go with low-level inflammation, which is linked to heart attacks and strokes.1,3
CRP is a messenger, not the culprit. Genetic studies show that people born with higher CRP don’t have more heart disease.8 What matters is the inflammation it points to.
How is hs-CRP different from a standard CRP test?
Both measure the same protein. A standard CRP test is built for the big rises that come with infection and inflammation. An hs-CRP test is precise at much lower levels, down to about 0.3 mg/L, which is where heart risk shows up.1
So for heart risk, you need the hs-CRP.
| Standard CRP | hs-CRP | |
|---|---|---|
| What it’s for | Spotting infection or inflammation | Gauging heart risk |
| Precise at low levels | Not built for it | Yes, down to about 0.3 mg/L |
| On your report | One normal range | Three heart-risk bands |
Only hs-CRP is used to judge heart risk.1
What raises hs-CRP?
- An infection or an injury1
- Recent hard exercise, for a short time9
- Extra weight, high blood pressure and diabetes1
- Smoking1
- Long-term infections or inflammation, such as gum disease or rheumatoid arthritis1
- Estrogen or progestogen hormones, such as menopause hormone therapy1,2
The first two are short-lived, which is why it matters when you test.1,9
How to lower hs-CRP
- Statins
In the JUPITER trial, rosuvastatin lowered hs-CRP by 37% and LDL cholesterol by 50%.4
- How much it helps
- Some
- How sure we are
- Very sure
- Losing extra weight
Body weight is one of the main influences on hs-CRP, and losing weight brings it down.1,3
- How much it helps
- Some
- How sure we are
- Fairly sure
-
- How much it helps
- A little
- How sure we are
- Fairly sure
- Regular exercise
About 150 minutes a week of moderate activity. A hard session raises hs-CRP for a short time, but regular exercise lowers it over months.3,9
- How much it helps
- A little
- How sure we are
- Fairly sure
- A Mediterranean-style diet
More vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, olive oil and fatty fish; less red and processed meat, refined carbs and sugary drinks.3
- How much it helps
- A little
- How sure we are
- Early evidence
Because CRP itself doesn’t seem to cause heart disease,8 the aim is to lower the inflammation and the risk behind it, not the number for its own sake.
What does a high hs-CRP change?
It can change whether you take a statin. In the JUPITER trial, 17,802 people with LDL cholesterol under 130 mg/dL but an hs-CRP of 2 or more took rosuvastatin or a placebo. Rosuvastatin cut heart attacks, strokes and other major events by 44%, and the trial stopped early, after about 2 years.4 The 2026 US cholesterol guideline notes that the benefit fits what the drop in LDL alone would predict.2
US guidelines now count an hs-CRP of 2 or more, on more than one test, as a risk enhancer. If your 10-year risk of heart disease is borderline (3% to under 5%) and no other cause explains the result, they say a high-intensity statin can be useful.2
For people who already have heart disease, inflammation is now a treatment target too. Low-dose colchicine, an old gout medicine, cut heart attacks, strokes and related events by 23% in COLCOT, in people who’d had a heart attack in the previous month,5 and by 31% in LoDoCo2, in people with stable coronary disease.6 It’s the first anti-inflammatory medicine approved in the US for this.3 But in CLEAR SYNERGY, starting it soon after a heart attack made no difference.7 These trials enrolled people with heart disease, not people with a high hs-CRP alone.5,6,7
Why test hs-CRP twice?
hs-CRP moves around from week to week, and one reading can catch a passing cold or a hard workout. The CDC and the American Heart Association advise testing twice, about 2 weeks apart, when you’re well, and averaging the two.1 US guidelines count a result of 2 or more only when it shows up on more than one test.2
If one result is over 10, leave it out of the average. Retest in about 2 weeks, and go by the lower result.1,3
Who should get an hs-CRP test?
Experts disagree. The 2026 US guideline treats hs-CRP as optional and notes that it may not sharpen your risk estimate much beyond the standard calculator.2 The American College of Cardiology’s 2025 statement goes further and suggests testing everyone who’s being checked for heart risk.3
It’s most useful if:
- Your 10-year heart risk is borderline, and the result would help you decide about a statin.2
- You already have heart disease and want to know whether inflammation is part of your remaining risk.3
Test when you’re well, not during an infection or right after hard exercise.1,9
How to get an hs-CRP test, and what it costs
An hs-CRP test costs $7.75 through Picardo. The Heart Health panel adds 16 more tests from the same visit for $150.90.
Heart Health panel
hs-CRP is one piece of your heart risk. The panel adds ApoB and Lp(a), HbA1c and insulin for blood sugar, plus kidney, liver and thyroid tests. See what’s in it
hs-CRP on its own
Only the number this page is about.
- Results in 2 to 3 days, in the app
- Physician follow-up if you want one
- Free Labcorp draw, or $75 at home
- No other fees. HSA and FSA eligible.
It’s also part of the Base Core Annual – Men, Base Core Annual – Women, Brain Health Screening and Thyroid & Autoimmunity panels, if you want a wider checkup.
Already have a result? Ask Picardo about itQuestions people ask
Can a cold or flu raise hs-CRP?
Yes. Any infection can push it up, sometimes over 10 mg/L. Wait until you’ve been well for about 2 weeks before you test.1
Do I need to fast for an hs-CRP test?
No. You can test fasting or not.1 If the same blood draw includes tests that need fasting, such as glucose or insulin, follow their instructions.
Does hormone therapy affect hs-CRP?
Yes. Estrogen and progestogen hormones raise it, and it isn’t clear that this rise means higher heart risk.1 Mention any hormones you take when you go over your result.
Should I check hs-CRP if I already take a statin?
It can help. The American College of Cardiology suggests asking about a stronger statin dose if hs-CRP stays over 2, whatever your LDL. That’s an expert statement rather than a guideline recommendation.3
How common is a high hs-CRP?
Very. About half of US adults have an hs-CRP of 2 mg/L or more. Body weight and smoking are among the biggest influences.3
Often checked alongside
Test details
- Labcorp test
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP), High Sensitivity (Cardiac Risk Assessment), 120766
- LOINC
- 30522-7
- Sample
- Blood
- Fasting
- Not needed1
- Typical lab range
- Under 1.0 mg/L (low risk); 1.0 to 3.0 (average); over 3.0 (high)
- Units
- mg/L. For mg/dL, divide by 10.
Sources
- 1 Pearson TA, Mensah GA, Alexander RW, et al. Markers of inflammation and cardiovascular disease: application to clinical and public health practice: a statement for healthcare professionals from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2003;107(3):499–511. doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.0000052939.59093.45
- 2 Blumenthal RS, Morris PB, Gaudino M, et al. 2026 ACC/AHA/AACVPR/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of dyslipidemia: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2026;153(17):e1154–e1276. doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001423
- 3 Mensah GA, Arnold N, Prabhu SD, Ridker PM, Welty FK. Inflammation and cardiovascular disease: 2025 ACC scientific statement: a report of the American College of Cardiology. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2026;87(11):1381–1404. doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.08.047
- 4 Ridker PM, Danielson E, Fonseca FA, et al. Rosuvastatin to prevent vascular events in men and women with elevated C-reactive protein. N Engl J Med. 2008;359(21):2195–2207. doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa0807646
- 5 Tardif JC, Kouz S, Waters DD, et al. Efficacy and safety of low-dose colchicine after myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med. 2019;381(26):2497–2505. doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1912388
- 6 Nidorf SM, Fiolet ATL, Mosterd A, et al. Colchicine in patients with chronic coronary disease. N Engl J Med. 2020;383(19):1838–1847. doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2021372
- 7 Jolly SS, d’Entremont MA, Lee SF, et al. Colchicine in acute myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med. 2025;392(7):633–642. doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2405922
- 8 C Reactive Protein Coronary Heart Disease Genetics Collaboration (CCGC). Association between C reactive protein and coronary heart disease: mendelian randomisation analysis based on individual participant data. BMJ. 2011;342:d548. doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d548
- 9 Kasapis C, Thompson PD. The effects of physical activity on serum C-reactive protein and inflammatory markers: a systematic review. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005;45(10):1563–1569. doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2004.12.077
Updated 28 Oct 2026.
This is general health information, not medical advice: talk to your clinician about your results and before changing any treatment.