Four blood tests are used to look for inflammation at Blood London: CRP, ESR, high-sensitivity CRP and plasma viscosity. Most people need one or two of them, and the choice depends on the question you want answered. If a doctor has mentioned "inflammation markers" and you want the quickest sensible start, the CRP blood test is the usual first choice: £70 plus the £50 blood draw, with the result in 1 day.
Which test fits your question
| If your question is... | Book | Price (plus £50 draw) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is something going on now, such as a recent infection or a flare? | CRP | £70 | 1 day |
| Is a longer-running condition that my doctor is monitoring settling? | ESR or plasma viscosity | £43.75 or £78.13 | 1 day or 3 days |
| What is my low-level inflammation, alongside my heart-risk picture? | hs-CRP | £70 | 1 day |
| I am not sure | CRP plus ESR | £113.75 together | 1 day |
CRP rises and falls within days, so it follows what is happening now. ESR and plasma viscosity move slowly, over weeks, so they suit a condition that is already known and being watched. If you want a fuller explanation of either one, our guides cover what a CRP result means and how the ESR test works.
Choosing CRP plus ESR
When you are unsure, taking both gives a doctor a fast marker and a slow one from the same sample. CRP is £70 and ESR is £43.75, so the two together are £113.75. You pay one £50 blood draw for the visit, which makes the total £163.75, and both results are back in 1 day. A single ESR test on its own comes to £93.75 with the draw.
Where plasma viscosity fits
Plasma viscosity is a third slow-moving marker, in the same family as ESR. It costs £78.13 plus the £50 draw, and the result takes 3 days. Some doctors ask for it when they are following a condition over time, so plasma viscosity is the one to book when you have been asked for it by name.
High-sensitivity CRP asks a different question
The high-sensitivity CRP test costs the same £70 as standard CRP, but it looks at a different range. It picks up the small, steady amounts of inflammation that sit in the background, and doctors read it alongside cholesterol when they assess heart risk. Standard CRP is the better pick for a sore, feverish or flaring week; hs-CRP is the better pick for a calm-week, long-view question.
hs-CRP also comes inside the Advanced Full Body Blood Test, which is £495 and needs no fasting. If you were already thinking of a wide check, that package saves you booking the marker separately.
What the markers can and can't tell you
"CRP and ESR tell you something is inflamed. They can't tell you where. I use them alongside your symptoms and an examination, and to see whether things are settling."
Dr Mohammad Bakhtiar, Clinical Lead, GMC 4694470
That is why a result is the start of a conversation. If a figure comes back raised, you can add a doctor review for £75 when you book, and the doctor will go through it with you. A private GP appointment is also available at Medical Express Clinic for £150, with time to examine you and plan any further tests.
Booking
You can walk in to 117a Harley Street, Monday to Friday 09:00 to 18:00 and Saturday or Sunday 10:00 to 14:00, or book ahead. Samples reach the lab the same day, and the turnaround clock starts there. The £50 draw is charged once per visit, as with all our private blood tests in London.
Repeating the test to see if it's settling
CRP changes over days, so a repeat after a few days shows which way it is moving. ESR changes over weeks, so a repeat a few weeks later tells you more. Each repeat visit carries its own £50 draw.
Book a CRP blood test at 117a Harley Street.