Effective today, May 20, 2013, the Epic laboratory test "C-REACTIVE PROTEIN, HIGHLY-SENSITIVE" (LAB150) will be renamed to "CARDIAC CRP".  An analysis of test ordering patterns has shown that "C-REACTIVE PROTEIN, HIGHLY-SENSITIVE" is being confused with "C-REACTIVE PROTEIN" (LAB149).  Renaming of this test is similar to what a number of other institutions and reference laboratories have done to address this issue.

Cardiac CRP is intended for assessment of the basal CRP as a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease or ischemic events.  Due to CRP being a sensitive acute-phase reactant, cardiac CRP should not be performed in setting of trauma, bacterial infection, inflammation, active autoimmune disease, surgery, or malignancy.  When CRP is increased as acute-phase reactant, cardiac CRP is likely to be above upper limit of assay (> 20 mg/L) and not provide any useful clinical information.

Questions should be directed to Matthew Krasowski, MD, PhD, medical director of the Clinical Chemistry and Iowa River Landing Laboratories (384-9380, matthew-krasowski@uiowa.edu).