CBC + CRP Analyser: The FBC and CRP From One Tube

Some haematology analysers add C-reactive protein to the full blood count from the same EDTA sample. Who that helps, how the CRP is measured, and when a separate point-of-care CRP is the simpler choice.

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Also called CBC + CRP analyser, FBC and CRP, Haematology analyser with CRP

Last updated: 11 October 2026

Why combine the FBC and CRP

With a feverish patient, doctors often want the white-cell count, the differential and an inflammation marker together. A combined analyser measures C-reactive protein (CRP) alongside the full blood count from one EDTA whole-blood sample, so one tube and one run give both answers during the visit.

One sample

Especially helpful for children: one finger-prick or one small tube instead of two collections and two tube types.

One run

No separate serum tube, centrifuge or second device, and the CRP prints on the same report as the FBC.

One instrument to look after

CRP still needs its own controls and calibration, but they run on the same analyser and are recorded in the same QC log.

How whole-blood CRP is measured

Combined analysers usually measure CRP by latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetry: antibody-coated latex particles clump in proportion to the CRP present, and the analyser reads the rise in turbidity. Because the sample is whole blood rather than serum, the analyser uses the haematocrit from the same run to convert the result to a plasma-equivalent value.

How fast CRP moves

CRP starts to rise within hours of inflammation beginning, peaks at around two days and falls quickly once it settles — its half-life is about 19 hours. A very early sample can still read low.

Reportable range

Check both ends. Severe bacterial infection can push CRP well above 100 mg/L, and some analysers need a manual dilution above their upper limit.

Agreement with your laboratory

Before going live, run a set of patient samples on the combined analyser and on your laboratory’s serum CRP method, and check agreement at low, middle and high values.

Verifying a new analyser

Using CRP in a clinic

CRP supports clinical judgement; it does not replace it. Neither CRP nor the white-cell count reliably separates bacterial from viral infection on its own.
Some guidelines use CRP to guide antibiotic decisions in primary care. For example, NICE guidance in the UK for suspected lower respiratory tract infection uses bands of under 20, 20–100 and over 100 mg/L.
In dengue, the platelet count, haematocrit and white-cell count remain the monitoring numbers. Dengue is diagnosed with NS1 antigen or serology, not with CRP.
Repeat CRPs show whether inflammation is settling with treatment.
Interpret each result against the reference interval and decision limits on your own report.

What to check before buying

Whether CRP is measured from the same aspiration as the FBC, and the total sample volume in FBC + CRP mode.
Whether a finger-prick (capillary) sample is validated for FBC + CRP — this matters most for children.
Time per sample in FBC + CRP mode compared with FBC alone.
The CRP reportable range, and what happens to samples above it.
CRP reagent storage — many need refrigeration — and stability once opened, set against your monthly CRP count.
Cost per CRP on top of the cost per FBC, including CRP controls and calibration.
MDA registration for the analyser, the CRP reagent and its controls.

A combined analyser or a separate point-of-care CRP?

	Combined FBC + CRP analyser	FBC analyser plus a separate POC CRP device
Sample	One EDTA sample for both tests	An EDTA tube for the FBC, plus a finger-prick for CRP
Best for	Clinics that order the FBC and CRP together many times a day	Clinics that need CRP occasionally, or do not run FBCs in-house
Running cost	CRP reagent and controls kept on the analyser; cost per CRP falls as volume rises	Paid per CRP cartridge
If something fails	Both tests may stop together	The other test carries on
Changing your mind	Chosen at purchase; CRP usually cannot be added to an FBC-only analyser later	Add or replace the CRP device at any time

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Frequently asked questions

Can a haematology analyser measure CRP?

Only models with a built-in CRP module. Standard 3-part and 5-part analysers count cells; CRP is a protein and needs an immunoassay, which combined models add alongside the cell count.

Is whole-blood CRP the same as serum CRP?

The analyser corrects the whole-blood result using the haematocrit so it is comparable with plasma or serum CRP. Confirm the agreement with your laboratory’s method when the analyser is verified.

Is a combined FBC + CRP analyser worth it for a GP clinic?

It makes most sense when the FBC and CRP are ordered together often, for example in a busy family or paediatric practice. If CRP is needed only occasionally, a separate point-of-care CRP device is usually simpler.

Does a high CRP mean a bacterial infection?

Not on its own. Very high values make bacterial infection more likely, but viral infections, inflammation and tissue injury also raise CRP, and an early bacterial infection can still read low.

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