QuikRead CRP

Measurement of CRP can be helpful in the clinical management of a patient with infection symptoms. CRP is normally present in low concentrations in the blood of healthy people. CRP concentrations are markedly increased in the event of bacterial infection, whereas viral infections normally induce only a modest elevation or no elevation at all.

QuikRead CRP is a simple test for quantitative measurement of CRP. The system - consisting of a small instrument and a ready-to-use kit - is designed for use in primary healthcare settings. When the test is performed near the patient, the result is available during patient consultation and can, therefore, guide antibiotic use.

QuikRead CRP provides you with

Reliability

• As accurate as a laboratory test
• Reproducible CRP result within 8 - 160 mg/l range

Speed

• Result available when needed - in less than 3 minutes

Ease of use

• The system is easy to operate, even by non-laboratory personnel
• Performed on a finger prick blood sample (alternatively serum or plasma sample)
• Built-in calibration

Test results should never be used alone, without a complete clinical evaluation.

QuikRead CRP is not registered in the USA.

CRP (C-reactive protein) is an acute-phase protein synthesised in the liver. Production of CRP is rapidly induced in response to infection, inflammation and tissue injury. Measurement of CRP may be helpful in the clinical management of a patient with symptoms of an infection. When evaluated in the light of the patient’s clinical condition, measurement of CRP can assist in differentiating between bacterial and viral infections and in rationalising antibiotic therapy. Monitoring CRP levels also provides an objective means of assessing treatment response as CRP levels fall rapidly as a result of an effective therapy.

Specific features of CRP

• normally present in very low concentrations in the blood of healthy people; 99% have levels of <10 mg/l¹
• uncomplicated viral infections mostly induce (with some exceptions) a very modest elevation or none at all¹
• in bacterial infections, concentrations increase markedly¹
• elevated concentrations can be detected within 6 - 12 h after onset of an inflammatory stimulus, reaching maximum within 24 - 48 h^2,3
• rise in concentrations corresponds to severity of infection¹
• concentrations fall rapidly when the patient responds to antibiotic treatment¹
• normalisation of the concentration may indicate that the duration of the treatment has been sufficient and the treatment can be discontinued^1,4,5

1. Pepys MB. The acute phase response and C-reactive protein. In: Warrell DA, Cox TM, Firth JD, Benz EJ, eds. Oxford Textbook of Medicine, 4th ed. Oxford University Press, 2003. Vol 2, p.150 – 156.
2. Bjerrum L. C-reactive protein measurement in general practice may lead to lower antibiotic prescribing for sinusitis. Br J Gen Pract 2004; 54: 659 - 662.
3. Pepys MB. C-reactive protein fifty years on. Lancet 1981; 1: 653 -657.
4. Philip AGS, Mills PC. Use of C-reactive Protein in Minimizing Antibiotic Exposure: Experience With Infants Initially Admitted to a Well-Baby Nursery. Pediarics 2000; 106.
5. Ehl S et al. C-Reactive Protein Is a Useful Marker for Guiding Duration of Antibiotic Therapy in Suspected Neonatal Bacterial Infection. Pediatrics 1997; 99: 216 - 221.

Regular use of QuikRead Controls is recommended.

The Controls available are:
QuikRead CRP Control, with a concentration of approx. 30 mg/l

Antibiotics are a cornerstone of the management of bacterial infections. 80 - 90% of antibiotics are prescribed in primary care, and up to 80% of these are used to treat acute respiratory tract infections¹. It is estimated that approximately 50% of all antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary². Although most of both upper and lower respiratory tract infections are self-limiting and caused by viruses, antibiotics are frequently used to treat these conditions. Unnecessary and inappropriate use of antibiotics favours the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria. Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern, which could cause harm to a large number of patients worldwide if infections are no longer susceptible to common medicines used to treat them. Therefore, antibiotics should be used with caution and only when necessary³.

The use of antibiotics in primary care varies considerably between countries, which is unlikely to be caused by differences in the frequency of bacterial infections. There is a clear correlation between the use of antibiotics and the emergence of antibiotic resistance^4-6. As stated by the World Health Organization (WHO)³, restricting an inappropriate and excessive antibiotic use is important to slow down or even reverse the development of antibiotic resistance.

The QuikRead CRP test helps healthcare professionals to identify those patients who need - and particularly those who do not need - antibiotic therapy. It is also important to know whether the antibiotics will affect the course of the illness^7,8. QuikRead CRP is useful for following up the effect of treatment. With accurate information, patients can be more easily reassured that symptomatic treatment will be sufficient. On the other hand, a high QuikRead CRP reading would suggest a bacterial infection requiring antibiotic treatment.

1. Goossens HF, M.; Vander, S.R.; Elseviers, M. Outpatient antibiotics use in Europe and association with resistance: a cross-national database study. Lancet 2005; 365:579-587.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States 2013.
3. World Health Organization. Antimicrobial resistance: global report on surveillance 2014.
4. Goossens H. Antibiotic consumption and link to resistance. Clin Microbiol Infect 2009; 15 Suppl 3:12-15.
5. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Antimicrobial consumption. Annual epidemiological report for 2016. Stockholm, 2018.
6. Bronzwaer SLAM, Cars O, Buchholz U et al. A European study on the relationship between antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance. Emerging infectious diseases 2002; 8:278-282.
7. Bruns AH, Oosterheert JJ, Hak E, Hoepelman AI. Usefulness of consecutive C-reactive protein measurements in follow-up of severe community-acquired pneumonia. Eur Respir J 2008; 32:726-732.
8. Coelho L, Povoa P, Almeida E et al. Usefulness of C-reactive protein in monitoring the severe community-acquired pneumonia clinical course. Crit Care 2007; 11:R92.

Marketing and sales materials

Instructions for Fingertip Blood Collection (EN)

Instructions for use

(For informative use only. Kindly always refer to the latest package insert in the kit.)

QuikRead CRP Prefilled Cuvettes IFU (FI, SE, NO, DK), 134191, 134192

QuikRead CRP Prefilled Cuvettes IFU (GB, DE, FR, IT), 134191, 134192

QuikRead CRP Prefilled Cuvettes IFU (CZ, SK, HU, PL), 134191, 134192

QuikRead CRP Prefilled Cuvettes IFU (SI, RS, HR, GR), 134191, 134192

QuikRead CRP Prefilled Cuvettes IFU (ES, PT, NL, GB), 134191, 134192

QuikRead CRP Control IFU (GB, DE, FR, ES, IT, CZ, SK, SI, SE, NO, DK, FI), 68296

Safety Data Sheet

QuikRead CRP Prefilled Cuvettes SDS (EN)

QuikRead CRP SDS (EN)

QuikRead CRP Control SDS (EN)

The QuikRead instrument gives me a result of > 160 mg/l, but I would like to get an exact CRP result. Is it possible?

When using plasma/serum samples you can dilute the sample with 0.9% NaCl before adding it to the cuvette. The recommended dilution is 1+1. Remember to multiply the result by 2.

I accidentally left a QuikRead CRP kit at room temperature for a weekend. Can I still use it?

Yes, you can use the kit. The kit can be stored at room temperature (18 - 25 °C) for one month. When used at room temperature during daily working hours (7.5 hours) and stored at +2 - +8 °C after finishing, the kit will remain stable for 3 months.

I have used a 20 µl sample volume for plasma patient samples. Is the result I get the final result?

No, when using a 20 µl plasma volume, the result should be multiplied by 0.6. When using a 12 µl plasma or serum volume, the result can be directly read from the screen and no additional calculations are needed.