Home › Biomarkers › CRP/albumin ratio
This value puts two proteins from your liver side by side: CRP and albumin. A high CRP can point to inflammation in your body, and a low albumin can point to a liver or kidney condition or to too little protein in your diet.[1, 2]
On this page you can read what the CRP/albumin ratio is, what the guidelines say about a value that is too low or too high, what affects your value and which values are best to look at alongside it.
Also known as: CRP-to-albumin ratio, CAR. At the lab: n/a.
CRP is a protein your liver makes in response to inflammation. The more inflammation, the higher your CRP. People who are healthy generally have very little CRP in their blood.[1]
Albumin is also a protein made by your liver. It keeps the fluid in your blood inside your blood vessels. It also carries substances around your body, such as hormones, vitamins and enzymes.[2]
The ratio is a proportion: your CRP divided by your albumin. This sums up two values in a single number.
Inflammation is the way your body protects your tissues. Short and sudden, it is useful. If inflammation lasts too long, it can damage your own tissues.[1]
Your CRP shows how much inflammation there is in your body. It does not say what is causing it or where the inflammation is.[1]
Albumin gives a picture of your general health and nutrition, and of how well your liver and kidneys are working. If your liver is damaged or you are not well nourished, your liver may make too little albumin.[2]
| Value | Can point to | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| 0.8 to 1.0 mg/dL or lower[1] | A healthy amount of CRP | People in general |
| Above normal[1] | Inflammation in your body | People in general |
| Above normal[1] | Smoking or polluted air too | People who smoke or breathe polluted air |
| Slightly higher than in men[1] | A normal difference between the sexes | Women |
Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, on the CRP test. These values apply to CRP alone, not to the ratio.[1]
A higher ratio can come from a higher CRP, a lower albumin or both. A higher CRP can point to inflammation. A lower albumin can point to a liver, kidney or thyroid condition, or to too little protein in your diet. A value outside the normal range does not always mean there is a condition that needs care.[1, 2]
BioProfile is working on its own zones for each value, from risk to optimal. A doctor reviews those zones before they appear in your result.
Smoking and exposure to polluted air or hazardous waste can raise your CRP. Tissue that is damaged or irritated again and again can also lead to long-term inflammation.[1]
Magnesium and anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen and aspirin can affect your CRP result. Steroids, insulin and hormones can raise your albumin, while the contraceptive pill can lower it. Never stop taking a medicine without talking to your healthcare provider.[1, 2]
Your albumin can be lower if you have not eaten for 24 to 48 hours. Dehydration, for example from severe diarrhoea, can instead make your albumin higher.[2]
Women often have slightly higher CRP levels than men. Poor sleep, significant excess weight and hormones during the menopause are also linked to a higher CRP. In people who are pregnant, albumin is lower.[1, 2]
The CRP/albumin ratio is included in all five packages, from BioProfile 31 to BioProfile 150.[3]
The BioProfile editorial team wrote this page on 22 October 2026 from the sources below, which we read on 22 October 2026. Every number on this page comes from one of those sources, with that source's number next to it. An expert is still reviewing this page; after that review, the expert's name and the date of the review will appear at the top. This page explains and does not diagnose. Discuss an abnormal value with your GP.
