Blood test · Summertown, Oxford
✓ Finger-prick sample · result while you wait · No fasting

CRP (inflammation) test
in Oxford.

C-reactive protein rises when there is inflammation or infection somewhere in the body. A quick finger-prick test tells you whether something is going on, and how much, so you know whether to see your GP.
Book CRP test
All 13 blood tests
CRP test icon
Price per test
£39
Finger-prick · result while you wait · No fasting
OVER 18S · NO GP REFERRAL · SUMMERTOWN
  • One fingertip sample, no needle in the arm
  • Pharmacist explains the result before you leave
  • Printed or emailed result, and a GP letter if needed
Book now →
📞 Call Summertown
Screening test, not a diagnosis. Out-of-range results are confirmed by a laboratory test through your GP.
Same visit
Result while you wait
£39
All-inclusive, no clinic fee
No fasting
Preparation
18+
Adults only · book online
What the test measures

What CRP tells you.

CRP is made by the liver in response to inflammation of any kind: infection, injury, flare-ups of conditions such as arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease, and some long-term conditions. It rises within hours and falls quickly once the cause settles, so it is a good marker of what is happening right now.

It can…

  • Show whether there is significant inflammation or infection at the moment
  • Help you and your pharmacist decide whether a GP appointment is needed
  • Track a flare-up or recovery when repeated

It can’t…

  • Tell you where the inflammation is or what is causing it
  • Rule out a serious problem when it is normal - some conditions do not raise CRP
Worth booking if

A good fit if…

  • You feel run down or achy and want to know whether something is going on
  • You have a condition that flares (arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease) and want a check between appointments
  • You are recovering from an infection and want to see it settling
See your GP first if

Not the right first step if…

  • Fever with a fast heartbeat, fast breathing, confusion or a rash that does not fade - call 999 or 111 now
  • Pain, swelling or fever that is getting worse day by day
A finger-prick test cannot assess an emergency. Call 999 for chest pain, breathlessness or collapse.
Your visit

What happens, start to finish.

About thirty minutes in total, most of it the pharmacist talking you through the result.

1. Book online

Pick your test and a time at Summertown.

2. A few questions

Medicines, symptoms and consent, in the consultation room.

3. One finger-prick

A few drops onto the test cartridge. Less than a flu jab.

4. A short wait

The analyser runs while you wait in the pharmacy.

5. Result explained

Against the UK ranges, with what it can and cannot tell you.

6. Your next step

Printed or emailed result, advice, and a GP letter if one is needed.

Understanding your result

What your result looks like, and what it means.

Your printed and emailed result shows your value on a traffic-light bar like this, with a plain-English line and your next step.
Below 5
5 to 10
10 to 100
Above 100
Normal
Mildly raised
Raised
Very high
Example: 3 mg/L sits in the green band – no significant inflammation.
ResultWhat it usually meansWhat we do
Below 5 mg/LNormalNo significant inflammation today.
5 to 10 mg/LMildly raisedOften a recent cold, exercise or minor injury. Repeat in a couple of weeks if you still feel unwell.
10 to 100 mg/LRaisedSuggests infection or active inflammation. See your GP in the next few days; we give you a letter.
Above 100 mg/LVery highNeeds same-day medical attention. We will arrange it with you before you leave.
These bands are the usual UK guide; your printed result shows the exact reference range the analyser uses. Some healthy people fall just outside a range, and one reading is a snapshot. The pharmacist reads your result with your history, and anything that needs confirming goes to your GP with a letter.
CRP FAQ

Common questions, answered.

No. If you have had a cold or injury in the past two weeks, mention it – it will show in the result.

No. It tells you that inflammation is present and roughly how much. Your symptoms and history point to the cause, which is why the pharmacist talks it through with you.

It means there is no significant inflammation today. It does not rule out every condition, so persistent symptoms still need your GP.

hs-CRP reads very low levels for long-term heart risk; this standard CRP test reads the higher levels linked to infection and inflammation.

That there is inflammation or infection somewhere in the body, and roughly how much. It does not say where or why. A mildly raised result is common after a cold; a high result with symptoms needs your GP, and a very high one is dealt with the same day.

Bacterial infections such as chest, urine and skin infections tend to raise it most; some viral illnesses, recent surgery or injury, and flare-ups of inflammatory conditions raise it too. If you feel unwell, see your GP rather than relying on the number.

Often checked together

Add a test from the same finger-prick.

Up to four tests can run from one sample, each £39. See all 13 blood tests →

Rheumatoid factor (RF) test

£39 · same visit
Read more →

Ferritin (iron stores) test

£39 · same visit
Read more →

hs-CRP test

£39 · same visit
Read more →
Where

MediPill Summertown

📍 227 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7HQ
📞 01865 558 348
Blood tests run Monday to Friday. Opening hours and directions →
Book at Summertown
Who runs it

Pharmacist-led

Led by pharmacist Uthmaan Abbasi (GPhC 2237035). Analysed on a professional point-of-care analyser in our consultation room – your sample never leaves the building.

Ready for your CRP test?

£39, result while you wait, explained by a pharmacist. Book online for Summertown.
Book CRP test →