Your key marker of inflammation

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive marker of

inflammation and has become a well-established point- Simple test procedure
of-care test for diagnosis and follow-up of infectious
Dilute sample
diseases and non-infectious inflammatory conditions
Mix 5 µL blood, with the
such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel
Dilution Liquid (R1)
disease.

Since launch in 1989, NycoCard® CRP has become the Apply sample
point-of-care test par excellence for use in doctor’s Apply 50 µL diluted sample to
office settings, as well as in out-patient clinics and the test device
hospital departments.
Apply conjugate
Key Features Apply one drop Conjugate (R2)
to the test device
• CRP result within 3 minutes from a finger
stick sample
Apply washing solution
• Only 5 µL sample volume, ideal for paediatrics Apply one drop Washing
• Simple and common procedure for whole Solution (R3) to the test device
blood, serum and plasma
• Broad measuring ranges: Read result
- whole blood samples: 8-200 mg/L Read the result with the
NycoCard® READER II
- serum/plasma samples: 5-120 mg/L
• Individual sealed test devices for maximum
reagent stability and low risk of contamination

POC Testing - Wherever it's needed

Early indication of infection
C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase protein
present in very low concentrations (< 5 mg/L) in
healthy people. However, in the acute phase of an
inflammation, the plasma concentration starts to
increase as early as 6-12 hours after the onset of an
infection or other inflammatory stimuli. During the
acute phase, depending on the intensity and extent of
the inflammation and the type of disease, CRP levels
can increase to more than 300 mg/L.
Avoids unnecessary antibiotic prescribing
In the doctor’s office setting, the CRP test is particularly
useful as a diagnostic tool in respiratory tract infections, NycoCard® CRP makes this key marker of
as the result gives a good indication as to whether the inflammation available in every point-of-care setting
infection requires antibiotic treatment or not. In most by the simple procedure and precise results.
viral infections the increase in CRP is typically below
20-30 mg/L. If the disease has a bacterial cause, the Your quality check
inflammatory component of the disease is often much
more pronounced and with a higher CRP level. • Calibrated against the international protein
standard ERM®-DA470
About 80% of upper respiratory infections are caused
• Quality assurance in compliance with
by viruses and thus do not respond to antibiotics.
However, a majority of these patients still receive ISO 9001 and the EU IVD regulative
antibiotic prescriptions without any benefit. • Control material in two CRP levels available
CRP has shown to be the most appropriate and
accurate test for differentiating between pneumonia References
and acute bronchitis in patients with lower respiratory 1. Almirall J, Bolíbar I,Toran P, Pera G, Boquet X, Balanzó X, Sauca G.
tract infection (LRTI) in general practice1-5. Contribution of C-reactive protein to the diagnosis and assessment of
severity of community-acquired pneumonia. Chest. 2004;125(4):1335-42.
CRP Probability of LRTI 2. Flanders SA, Stein J, Shochat G, Sellers K, Holland M, Maselli J, Drew
WL, Reingold AL, Gonzales R. Performance of a bedside C-reactive
< 20 mg/L • very low probability of pneumonia protein test in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia in
adults with acute cough. Am J Med. 2004;116(8):529-35.
20-50 mg/L • low probability of pneumonia
3. Hopstaken RM, Muris JW, Knottnerus JA, Kester AD, Rinkens PE, Dinant
50-100 mg/L • unambiguous infection GJ. Contributions of symptoms, signs, erythrocyte sedimentation rate,
and C-reactive protein to a diagnosis of pneumonia in acute lower
• probably acute bronchitis
respiratory tract infection. Br J Gen Pract. 2003;53(490):358-64.
• possibly pneumonia 4. Melbye H, Straume B, Aasebø U, Dale K. Diagnosis of pneumonia in
adults in general practice. Relative importance of typical symptoms and
> 100 mg/L • serious infection
abnormal chest signs evaluated against a radiographic reference
• consider pneumonia standard. Scand J Prim Health Care. 1992;10(3):226-33.
5. van der Meer V, Neven AK, van den Broek PJ, Assendelft WJ. Diagnostic
The CRP result supports the clinical diagnosis and can value of C reactive protein in infections of the lower respiratory tract:
systematic review. BMJ. 2005;331(7507):26.
help the doctor to convince the patient that antibiotic For further reading and references to key literature, the booklet “C-
treatment is not needed. reactive protein in clinical practice” available from Axis-Shield PoC is
recommended.
As with most other diagnostic tests, CRP result should
always be combined with clinical findings when deciding
upon treatment. For more information visit www.axis-shield-poc.com

POC Testing - Wherever it's needed

Mat. no.: 1115584 - May 2009