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[Quantitative assays for C-reactive protein: a review]
H Oyamada1, O Nakagomi, S Uesugi
1Central Clinical Laboratory, Akita University Hospital.
Rinsho Byori. the Japanese Journal of Clinical Pathology
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Standardizing C-reactive protein (CRP) testing is crucial as results vary significantly between labs. Achieving consistent CRP assay standardization faces challenges due to the nature of immunological reactions.
Area of Science:
- Clinical chemistry
- Immunoserology
Context:
- C-reactive protein (CRP) is a vital serological marker in clinical diagnostics.
- Quantitative CRP assays are increasingly replacing qualitative ones.
- Significant inter-laboratory variability in CRP results has been observed.
Purpose:
- To highlight the urgent need for standardization in C-reactive protein (CRP) assays.
- To discuss the challenges in achieving standardization for CRP measurements.
Summary:
- Past surveys revealed high coefficients of variation (CV) for CRP assays, ranging from 12.6% to 46.9%.
- While within-run precision shows good reproducibility (CV: 3.9-7.8%), inter-laboratory comparisons remain unreliable.
- Standardization is hindered by factors inherent to the immunological reactions of macromolecules, including potential microheterogeneity of CRP.
Impact:
- Inconsistent CRP values impede accurate clinical decision-making across different healthcare facilities.
- Establishing standardized CRP assays is essential for reliable patient monitoring and diagnosis.
- Overcoming standardization challenges is critical for improving the clinical utility of CRP testing.