RT Journal
A1 Redberg RF
T1 Laboratory variability and precise clinical decision making: Comment on “within-person variability in high-sensitivity c-reactive protein”
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2012
FD October 22
VO 172
IS 19
SP 1521
OP 1521
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2012.4202
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2012.4202
AB 
C-reactive protein levels are used as a criterion for initiating statin therapy and are also included in some risk scores for predicting cardiac events. It is sobering to learn from this report that there is so much intrapatient variability with the test: one-third of patients with a high value will have a normal value if the test is repeated soon afterward. Clinical decisions and risk prediction should be made based on at least 2 similar CRP levels.