C-reactive protein in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia

qualitative determination of c-reactive protein (crp) was evaluated as a diagnostic method for community-acquired pneumonia. paired serum and pleural fluid samples from child patients were examined with a crp test, compared to bacterial cultures, counterimmunoelectrophoresis and immunoassay. the crp test gave excellent parameters of sensitivity, specificity and predictive values for the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia.