OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to explore trends in high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) screening prior to statin use, as compared to current lipid screening practices.  METHODS: The PharMetrics Integrated Outcomes Database was used to obtain medical claims records for continuously enrolled adult (≥18 years) first-time statin users.  Patients were followed for one year.  Both hs-CRP and lipid tests were identified by CPT-4 procedure codes.  Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the population and estimate unadjusted associations between patient characteristics and hs-CRP testing.  Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of testing, controlling for age, gender, diabetes, statin intensity, prescribing physician specialty, geographic region and health plan type.  RESULTS: Between July 1, 1997 and March 31, 2007, 33,666 new statin users received lipid tests within 90 days prior to the index statin prescription.  One thousand (3%) also received hs-CRP tests during this time.  Over 80% of these individuals received the tests in 2004 or later.  Those receiving hs-CRP tests were less likely to have a Medicare, Medicaid or other type of plan, as compared to private insurance (P<.05) and were less likely to reside in the South, Midwest or West, as compared to the Northeast (P<0.01).  Individuals who received hs-CRP tests had higher adjusted odds of receiving a high potency statin (OR=1.37, P<.01) and lower odds of having diabetes (OR = 0.56, P<0.01).  Those receiving hs-CRP tests were more likely to have a cardiologist as their statin-prescribing physician, rather than a family or general practitioner (OR=1.31, P=0.02).     CONCLUSIONS: Rates of hs-CRP testing are very low, but higher among those seeing a cardiologist or having private insurance.  Those who received a high potency statin had higher rates of testing, suggesting that those with higher cardiovascular risk may be more likely to receive an hs-CRP test.