A Comprehensive Review of C-Reactive Protein Testing Methods: From Current Status to Future Prospects

Abstract

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive inflammatory biomarker primarily synthesised by the liver. When the body is infected, inflamed, or tissue is damaged, the CRP content in the body will rise rapidly. Persistent or excessive elevation may lead to serious health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, acute kidney injury, and chronic kidney disease. Given the high sensitivity of CRP to inflammation, infection, and cardiovascular disease risk, it is widely considered a key biomarker for assessing these pathological conditions. Traditional CRP detection methods include immunoturbidimetry (ITM), enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA), which have disadvantages such as high cost, complex operation, and cumbersome processes. In recent years, researchers have combined biosensing technology, microfluidic technology, and nanomaterials to develop multi-dimensional, synergistic detection technologies that have significantly improved CRP detection performance. This review comprehensively summarises the recent advances in CRP detection technologies, encompassing the fields of immunoassays, electrochemical detection, and optical sensing. Furthermore, we delineate the underlying technical principles and performance optimisation strategies for CRP detection, while also providing perspectives on the development trends in point-of-care testing (POCT) devices and the expansion of non-blood body fluid testing technologies.