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Randox Laboratories, ltd.
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C-reactive protein (CRP) is an a2-globulin that is synthesised in the liver that can form cross-linked lattices, agglutinate, precipitate and activate the complement pathway. Despite being quantitatively a minor plasma protein, the increase in levels is detectable within 6 hours and the final increase may be as much as 60-fold. Thus, a raised level is unequivocal evidence of inflammation. It is also more specific than the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), therefore it is probably the most useful current measure of the acute phase response.
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