All Inflammation Tests

Inflammation is your body’s response to injury, infection, or immune activity. When it becomes chronic, it can affect joints, heart and blood vessels, metabolism, skin, and the digestive tract. Because symptoms overlap across many conditions, lab testing helps you and your clinician see if inflammation is present, how strong it is, and where to look next.

A proactive plan starts with core markers—high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) or CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and a CBC with differential. Then layer context tests such as ferritin, fibrinogen, albumin, and autoimmune screens (e.g., ANA, rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP, complements C3/C4) based on your symptoms. These labs support screening, diagnostic triage, and monitoring, but they do not replace a clinician’s exam, imaging, or urgent care for severe symptoms.

Signs, Symptoms & Related Situations

• Whole-body: persistent fatigue, low-grade fevers, night sweats, poor sleep, weight change

• Joints & muscles: morning stiffness, swollen/tender joints, tendon pain, recurring back pain

• Skin & mucosa: rashes, photosensitivity, mouth ulcers, psoriasis, eczema

• Heart & metabolism: central weight gain, high triglycerides, insulin resistance, elevated blood pressure

• Gut & liver: abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, bloating, abnormal liver enzymes

• Lab clues you may already have: high platelets, anemia of chronic disease, elevated ferritin without iron overload

• Urgent care now: chest pain, severe shortness of breath, one-sided weakness, confusion, black/bloody stools, or rapidly worsening symptoms

All symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified clinician.

Why These Tests Matter

What testing can do

• Detect and quantify inflammation (hs-CRP/CRP, ESR, fibrinogen)

• Narrow likely causes by pairing inflammation markers with autoimmune panels, CBC, iron studies, complements, and organ function tests

• Monitor trends over time to inform follow-up decisions with your clinician

What testing cannot do

• Provide a specific diagnosis from one abnormal result

• Replace imaging, procedures, or specialist evaluation when indicated

• Offer treatment or dosing advice—use results to guide discussions with your clinician

What These Tests Measure (at a glance)

• hs-CRP / CRP: proteins that rise with inflammation; hs-CRP also refines cardiometabolic risk when measured at steady state. Recent infections, hard workouts, and injuries can temporarily raise values.

• ESR: indirect inflammation marker; slower to change than CRP and affected by age, anemia, and pregnancy.

• Ferritin: iron-storage protein and acute-phase reactant; high can reflect inflammation, low supports iron deficiency.

• Fibrinogen: clotting factor that increases with inflammation and tracks activity in some disorders.

• Albumin / Prealbumin: negative acute-phase reactants; often lower in chronic inflammation or illness.

• CBC with Differential & Platelets: neutrophils/lymphocytes for infection/inflammation clues; thrombocytosiscan be inflammatory.

• Autoimmune markers (as indicated): ANA with reflex panel (e.g., dsDNA, ENA), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-CCP, complement C3/C4, ANCA—supportive for lupus, Sjögren’s, vasculitis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Metabolic & gout context: A1c/glucose, lipids (± ApoB), uric acid; inflammation often clusters with metabolic risk.

• GI inflammation: Fecal calprotectin (separate GI category) when inflammatory bowel disease is suspected.

• Infection vs. inflammation: Procalcitonin and CRP trends can help distinguish bacterial patterns (clinical context required).

Quick Build Guide

Clinical goal	Start with	Add if needed
General inflammation screen	hs-CRP or CRP • ESR • CBC • CMP (albumin)	Ferritin • Fibrinogen
Autoimmune-type symptoms (rash/joint pain)	CRP/ESR • CBC	ANA w/ reflex • RF • anti-CCP • C3/C4 • ANCA
Cardiometabolic risk refinement	hs-CRP (steady state) • Lipid panel • A1c	ApoB • Lp(a)
Arthritis or swollen joints	CRP/ESR • CBC	RF • anti-CCP • Uric acid • ANA reflex
Anemia with suspected inflammation	CRP/ESR • CBC	Ferritin • Iron/TIBC • Transferrin saturation • Reticulocyte count
Chronic GI complaints	CRP • CBC	Fecal calprotectin (GI category) • Celiac serology
Unexplained elevated ferritin	Ferritin • CRP/ESR • CBC	Iron/TIBC • Transferrin saturation • LFTs

How the Testing Process Works

1. Pick your starting panel: choose CRP/hs-CRP, ESR, CBC, and albumin based on your goals.

2. Prepare for accuracy: for hs-CRP risk testing, draw when you’re well and avoid intense exercise for 24–48 hours; list medications and supplements.

3. Provide samples: standard blood draw (stool only if GI inflammation testing like calprotectin is added). Fasting is not required unless lipids/glucose are included.

4. Get results securely: most values post within a few days.

5. Review and plan: align labs with symptoms, exam, and—if needed—imaging; set a trend schedule with your clinician.

Interpreting Results (General Guidance)

• CRP/hs-CRP elevated: supports active inflammation; repeat once you’re well if the draw was during an illness.

• ESR elevated: supportive but nonspecific; may stay high after recovery.

• Ferritin high: can indicate inflammation or iron overload—check iron panel for context.

• Albumin low / fibrinogen high: pattern consistent with chronic inflammatory activity or illness burden.

• Autoimmune markers positive: increase suspicion for specific rheumatologic diseases when symptoms match.

• Normal markers: do not rule out disease—some conditions flare intermittently or affect organs without large CRP/ESR changes.
  Always interpret results with a qualified healthcare professional; patterns and trends matter more than single values.

Choosing Panels vs. Individual Tests

• Foundational set (most adults): hs-CRP or CRP • ESR • CBC • CMP (albumin)

• Autoimmune work-up: add ANA with reflex panel, RF, anti-CCP, C3/C4, and ANCA based on symptoms.

• Cardiometabolic focus: pair hs-CRP with lipids/A1c (± ApoB) in a steady state.

• Iron/fatigue focus: Ferritin + iron/TIBC + transferrin saturation with CRP/ESR to separate iron deficiency from inflammatory elevation.

• GI focus: CRP plus fecal calprotectin (GI category) for suspected IBD.

FAQs

Do I need to fast for inflammation tests?
No. Fast only if your order includes lipids or glucose/A1c.

What’s the difference between CRP and hs-CRP?
They measure the same protein. hs-CRP detects lower levels used for cardiometabolic risk; CRP tracks general inflammation and flares.

Can a cold or hard workout raise CRP?
Yes. Acute infections, injury, and intense exercise can spike CRP. Test for baseline risk when you’re well.

If my ANA is positive, do I have lupus?
Not necessarily. ANA can be positive in healthy people. It must be read with symptoms and reflex antibodies.

Is ferritin a good inflammation test?
It’s helpful, but not specific. Pair it with iron studies and CRP/ESR.

How often should I retest?
Many people retest every 3–6 months for trend monitoring or sooner during flares—follow your clinician’s plan.

Can these tests tell if I need medication?
No. They inform decisions but do not set treatment. Discuss results with your clinician.

Related Categories & Key Tests

• Upward: Inflammation Tests Hub

• Sideways: Autoimmune & Rheumatologic Tests • Arthritis Tests • Cardiovascular Risk & Cholesterol • Diabetes & Metabolic Health • Digestive Health (IBD) • Infectious Disease Panels

• Key Tests (downward): hs-CRP • CRP • ESR • Ferritin • Fibrinogen • Albumin/Prealbumin • CBC with Differential • CMP • ANA (with reflex panel) • Rheumatoid Factor • Anti-CCP • Complement C3/C4 • ANCA • Iron/TIBC/Transferrin Saturation • Lipid Panel (± ApoB) • A1c/Glucose • Uric Acid • Fecal Calprotectin (GI)

References

• American Heart Association/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Scientific statement on hs-CRP and cardiovascular risk.
• American College of Rheumatology — Use of ESR/CRP and autoantibodies in rheumatic disease evaluation.
• European League Against Rheumatism — Monitoring inflammatory rheumatic diseases.
• World Health Organization — Ferritin and iron assessment in the presence of inflammation.
• National Institutes of Health — Inflammation biology and acute-phase reactants.
• Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute — Best practices for CRP/ESR measurement and interpretation.

Available Tests & Panels

Your All Inflammation Tests menu is pre-populated in the Ulta Lab Tests system. Use filters to build a foundational panel (hs-CRP/CRP, ESR, CBC, albumin), add ferritin/fibrinogen for context, and include autoimmune markers, iron studies, or GI inflammation tests (fecal calprotectin) based on symptoms. Review results with your clinician to plan imaging, follow-up, and trend monitoring.

Hide