hs-CRP test at home in Dubai
hs-CRP measures very small amounts of inflammation, below the level a standard CRP test is built to read. It is used to add detail to heart risk, not to look for infection.
What the test measures
HS-CRP (High Sensitivity Marker). A high-sensitivity measure of C-reactive protein, a protein the liver makes in response to inflammation. It can read levels well below 1 mg/L, the range linked with long-term cardiovascular risk.
Who should test
Plaque in the arteries is not only about cholesterol. Low-grade inflammation in the artery walls plays a part too, and persistently raised hs-CRP is linked with a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. It can add useful detail when cholesterol is borderline, or when there is a family history of early heart disease and the lipid numbers look reassuring.
hs-CRP and standard CRP measure the same protein, but for different jobs. Standard CRP is built to pick up the big rises that come with infection or injury. hs-CRP is built to measure the small, steady background level in someone who feels well. That is why the screen includes both: CRP in the Infection & Inflammation section, hs-CRP here with the lipid profile. Extra weight, smoking, poor sleep, insulin resistance and inactivity are commonly linked with a higher background level.
- Borderline cholesterol and wanting more detail on heart risk
- A family history of early heart disease or stroke
- Extra weight around the middle or raised blood sugar
- Smoking or vaping
- Wanting to track the effect of changes to diet, sleep or activity
How to prepare
- Book the draw when you are well. A cold, infection, injury or dental work in the last two weeks can raise hs-CRP and make the result hard to read.
- Avoid very hard training for 48 hours before the draw.
- Follow the fasting instructions for the full screen.
Reading your results
Units: mg/L
hs-CRP is reported in mg/L. A widely used guide for heart risk is under 1 mg/L lower risk, 1-3 mg/L average and above 3 mg/L higher risk. Labs may use slightly different bands.
If it comes back above 3 mg/L
A single raised result is often repeated after about two weeks, because a passing illness can push it up. A persistently raised level is read alongside your cholesterol, blood sugar and family history rather than on its own.
If it comes back above 10 mg/L
A level this high usually points to an active infection or inflammation, not to heart risk. It is not used for heart risk at this level and is normally rechecked once you are well. Your consultant will look at it with your CRP, ESR and white cell count.
Reference ranges differ between labs, and a single result is a snapshot. Your consultant reads every value against your history and the rest of the screen, not in isolation.
How the home test works
This test is part of Baseline’s full blood screen: 122 parameters across ten systems from one draw, for AED 850, with results in 48 hours. It is not sold as a single test, because the result means more next to everything else.
- Nurse comes to you. A licensed phlebotomist visits your home or office, 7 days a week, anywhere in the UAE.
- Accredited lab. Samples are processed by a CAP-accredited laboratory (College of American Pathologists), also accredited to ISO 15189, against clinical reference ranges.
- Reviewed with you. Results land in your account in Baseline format, and your consultant walks you through them on video, never a PDF dumped in your inbox.
Ranges are the lab’s own. Your consultant goes through what they mean with you.
Your results arrive in the Baseline app, every marker against the lab’s own range, checked by your consultant before you see them. The values above are an example.
Questions
- What is the difference between hs-CRP and CRP?
- They measure the same protein. Standard CRP picks up the larger rises seen with infection and inflammation. hs-CRP measures much lower levels and is used to add detail to heart risk in people who feel well.
- What is a good hs-CRP level?
- Under 1 mg/L is commonly treated as lower cardiovascular risk and 1-3 mg/L as average. Ranges vary slightly by lab, and one result is best confirmed with a repeat.
- Can a cold affect my hs-CRP result?
- Yes. Any recent infection, injury or hard training session can raise it for days or weeks, so test when you are well.
- Can I book an hs-CRP test on its own?
- No. hs-CRP is part of the Heart Health section of the full home screen, measured from the same single draw.
Related tests
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you feel unwell, or your symptoms are new or getting worse, speak to a doctor.
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