This article was last reviewed on
This article waslast modified on 10 July 2017.

On 6th August, the Daily Mail published an article with the headline “The instant blood test to tell if you really do need antibiotics” which suggested that antibiotic prescribing by GP’s could be dramatically improved by a new test: CRP.

Whilst there is a good case for quality assured finger prick CRP testing in specific clinical settings, the article contained several misconceptions about CRP testing and its use in diagnosing/excluding infection:

  • GP surgeries in the UK have had access to same day CRP testing for decades via their local NHS laboratories. The time for test results to be available to the GP is negotiated locally, between the laboratory and primary care and is based on clinical need, usually this is within 24hours. In nearly all cases cost per test less than £2.
  • It is wrong to state that type of infection can only be confirmed with a blood test. Whilst sometimes helpful, in many cases GP’s are more than capable of diagnosing or excluding bacterial infection without the need for laboratory tests.
  • CRP is not specific for bacterial infection and is frequently elevated in a wide range of other conditions, such as Rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory diseases. See our pages http://www.labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/crp/

A raised level of CRP does not always require antibiotics. Over-reliance on CRP results may therefore actually increase unnecessary antibiotic treatment if not interpreted correctly.

Dr Danielle Freedman, Chair of the Lab Tests Online-UK Board

“Lab Tests Online believe it is crucial that patients are given the correct information about laboratory testing, in order to engage in their own healthcare with their GP or other healthcare professionals.”