Erythrocyte Sedimenatation Rate (ESR)
 (Haematology)
Investigation : Erythrocyte Sedimenatation Rate (ESR)
Specimen type : EDTA
Spec container : EDTA 
Volume required : 4 ml
MALE Ref range : 2 - 10 mm in 1 hour
FEMALE Ref range : 5 - 15 mm in 1 hour
Turnaround : <24 hours

1.5ml EDTA blood is required to perform a full blood count and ESR on the same sample.





Please note there is a change to reference ranges for ESR generated by the RLH and BGH sites. These results are not directly comparable to previous results, and reference ranges published with results should be referred to.

When anticoagulated blood is allowed to stand undisturbed, the red cells sediment. The Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) is primarily a non-specific test for the screening of different pathologies associated with acute or chronic inflammation. In pathological conditions the blood undergoes changes, and the concentration of acute phase proteins such as fibrinogen and IgM increase in plasma. The ESR is also dependent on the viscosity of the plasma, red cell factors, physical influences and technical variables.
The ESR is helpful in diagnosing two specific inflammatory diseases, temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. A high ESR is one of the main test results used to confirm the diagnosis. It is also used to monitor disease activity and response to therapy in both of these diseases.

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