C-reactive protein is a substance that the liver makes in response to inflammation. The C-reactive protein test measures the amount of this protein in the blood. The test can help to diagnose acute and chronic conditions that cause inflammation

CRP test is more broad, just looking for inflammation, where as hs-CRP (High sensitivity) is more specific, quantitative, and primarily with those suspected to have cardiovascular disease.

A wide variety of inflammatory conditions can cause elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, including the following:

autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus, and certain types of inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

infection

organ or tissue injury

obesity

Estrogen levels: Estrogen-based medications such as birth control pills and hormone replacement

Periodontal Disease

Significantly high hs-CRP levels of more than 350 milligrams per liter (mg/L) or 2mg, are nearly always a sign of a serious underlying medical condition, or a severe infection.

Some conditions that may cause an elevated hs-CRP level include:

atherosclerosis

diabetes

pericarditis, which is inflammation of the lining of the heart

cancer

organ or tissue injury

The hs-CRP test results indicate a person's risk of developing cardiovascular disease accordingly:

Low risk is less than 1 mg/L.

Moderate risk is between 1 mg/L and 3 mg/L.

High risk is greater than 3 mg/L.

Infection is responsible for around 80% of the cases involving CRP levels greater than 10 mg/L.