The most common blood tests used to diagnose inflammation are the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) test, and the complete blood count (CBC). The ESR test measures the rate at which red blood cells settle to the bottom of a tube of unclotted blood.
This is an indicator of the amount of inflammation present in the body. The CRP test measures the amount of CRP, a substance produced by the liver which increases significantly when there is inflammation.
Finally, the CBC measures the levels of red and white blood cells, which can indicate if there is an inflammatory response occurring in the body. In some cases, a doctor may order additional blood tests, like a cytokine panel or rheumatoid factor test, to better assess any inflammation present.