What are they?
These are blood tests which check for signs of inflammation caused
by illnesses such as chronic infection, auto-immune diseases and
some cancers.

In order to try and fight invading infection or disease, the body
responds be becoming 'inflamed'. As well as possibly affecting the
normal blood cell count, other proteins in the blood are affected
and it is these that we can test.
Sometimes the body 'misreads' its own cells and starts to fight them
as if they were foreign. This is called an auto-immune reaction and
can be measured by the same tests - as well as by specific tests to
see which cell, or part, is being attacked.
The tests detect the effects of illness and are also used to monitor
its progress and the success of treatment in controlling the
inflammation.
The tests may be a general test of proteins affecting the thickness
of the blood plasma, such as PV and ESR - or may be a specific test
for certain proteins such as PSA for prostate disease.
Preparation tips
You may be told to not eat, or to avoid certain foods, before the
test.
You should be certain that you've taken your medication as
prescribed.
Unless told not to, have a snack or drink beforehand to avoid
feeling faint.


Test Normal range Abnormal results indicate:


C-Reactive protein (CRP) < 10 mg/l A protein which interacts with
the bodies 'complement' system, part of the immune system, CRP
measures acute inflammation.

High: Auto-immune disease such as systemic lupus, inflammatory
arthritis such as rheumatoid, rheumatic fever, TB, heart attack, and
malignancy. Also high at the end of pregnancy and with the oral
contraceptive pill.


Plasma Viscosity (PV) 1.5 -1.72 mPa

High: Chronic disease such as inflammatory arthritis, auto-immune
diseases, later stage malignancy (including secondary spread)
myeloma and macroglobulinopathies, increases PV to 1.75 -2.00. PV
Rises normally in the third trimester of pregnancy.


Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) Male 0-20 mm/h
Female 0- 30mm/h

High: General test for all types of inflammation, not diagnostic of
a specific condition. Useful where the symptoms are vague to
establish the cause is inflammatory.


Prostate specific antigen (PSA) < 4 µg/l High: Prostate cancer,
although can be raised in other prostatic disease


Auto -immune profile

The normal is negative

Gastric parietal cell, Reticulin, Mitochondrial, Smooth Muscle Liver
& Kidney microsomal, Anti-Nuclear factor are the commonest proteins
checked for. A positive result indicates auto-immune disease
relevant to that factor.