A CRP (C-Reactive Protein) test is a simple blood test that measures CRP levels, a protein made by the liver that increases when there’s inflammation, infection, or tissue damage in the body, helping doctors detect issues like infections, autoimmune diseases (like arthritis), or heart disease risk, though it doesn’t pinpoint the cause, often requiring other tests for a diagnosis. High levels indicate inflammation, but a specific, more sensitive hs-CRP test can assess cardiovascular risk