All Notes

ESR Test: Introduction, Test Result, Unit, Test Method, Clinical Significance, and Keynotes

Introduction of ESR

The ESR stands for erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It is the rate at which erythrocyte sediment and the ESR test is a nonspecific assay that only confirms the presence or absence of inflammatory activity in the body like infection, cancer, or an autoimmune disease. It is also clinically significant to monitor how conditions, such as those below, are progressing or responding to treatment such as rheumatoid arthritis (inflammation in the joints), temporal arteritis (a type of blood vessel inflammation), polymyalgia rheumatic (a complication of temporal arteritis), and systemic vasculitis (inflammation of the lining of the blood vessels).

ESR-Test Result, Unit, Normal Range, and Test Method

Fig. ESR-Test Result, Unit, Normal Range, and Test Method

Stages of ESR

Stage of aggregation or rouleaux formation: 10 minutes

Sedimentation or setting stage: 40 minutes

Stage of packing: 10 minutes

Methods of Assaying

  1. Wintrobe’s -EDTA blood is used and the length of the tube is 11 cm in diameter of 2.5mm. It is graduated from 0 mm to 100 mm that contains 1 ml of blood. The normal range for males is 0 to 10 mm/hour while in females is 0 to 15 mm/hour.
  2. Westergreen-It is a 300mm long tube, graduated from 0 to 200 mm of diameter 2.55 mm. Trisodium citrate anticoagulated is used for this method of dilution 4:1 (1.6 ml of blood with 0.4 ml of anticoagulant having a strength of 3.2%. The normal range of this method is for males 3 to 5 mm/hour and 4 to 7 mm/hour for females.
  3. Micro method
  4. The automated sedimentation method is the most accurate and fast method of testing.
Fig. Wintrobe’s Method of ESR Test

Clinical Significance

Extremely elevated results: It is an extremely high ESR value, which is one above 100 mm/hour, may indicate one of these conditions:

  • Multiple myeloma (plasma cells cancer)
  • Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia (white blood cell cancer)
  • Temporal arteritis or polymyalgia rheumatica
  • Hypersensitivity vasculitis (reaction to an allergen that results in blood vessel inflammation)

A moderately elevated ESR- It may not always indicate a health condition. However, it is possible that people whose ESR value is slightly high may have one of the following situations-

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Anemia
  • kidney disease
  • Thyroid disease
  • Red blood cell abnormalities (macrocytosis)
  • Some forms of cancer like lymphoma
  • Tuberculosis
  • Bone infection
  • Heart infection
  • Systemic infection
  • Pregnancy

Low levels- People with low ESR values may have in following clinical conditions-

  • Sickle cell anemia, a condition that affects the shape of red blood cells
  • Leukemia
  • High red blood cell count
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Low levels of the protein fibrinogen in the blood
  • Hyperviscosity, an increase in blood thickness
  • Leukocytosis -a very high white blood cell count

Keynotes

  • The most sensitive method is Westergreen.
  • Fibrinogen, α and β globulin increases ESR while plasma albumin decreases ESR.
Medical Lab Notes

View Comments

  • I want to show thanks to you just for bailing me out of this type of situation. Just after scouting throughout the the web and getting techniques which were not productive, I was thinking my life was gone. Existing devoid of the answers to the difficulties you've resolved by means of your review is a serious case, and ones that could have badly affected my career if I hadn't encountered your web blog. The training and kindness in handling all the things was precious. I'm not sure what I would've done if I hadn't encountered such a step like this. I am able to at this time look forward to my future. Thank you very much for your impressive and effective help. I won't think twice to endorse your web sites to any person who needs to have direction on this matter.

Recent Posts

TOP 10 Bacterial Diseases: Introduction, List, Pathogenicity, Lab Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, and Keynotes

Introduction to Bacterial Diseases Bacterial diseases are illnesses caused by pathogenic bacteria entering the body,…

4 days ago

HVAC Vs HEPA Filters: Introduction, Comparison, and Keynotes

Introduction The fundamental difference is that standard HVAC filters are primarily designed to protect heating…

1 week ago

HVAC Filters-Introduction, Principle, Working Mechanism, Application, and Keynotes

Introduction to HVAC Filters Air filters act as the first line of defense in an…

1 week ago

Air Handling Unit (AHU)-Introduction, Principle, Working Mechanism, Application, and Keynotes

Introduction An Air Handling Unit (AHU) is the heart of a building's Heating, Ventilation, and…

1 week ago

HEPA Vs ULPA Filters: Introduction, Comparison, and Keynotes

Introduction to the Filters HEPA Filters: Originally developed during the 1940s Manhattan Project to capture…

1 week ago

Laminar Air Flow (LAF)Hood/Cabinet: Introduction, Principle, Parts, Handling Procedure, Uses, and Keynotes

Introduction A Laminar Air Flow cabinet creates a sterile work environment by capturing dust and…

1 week ago