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The Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) is a simple blood test that measures how quickly red blood cells (erythrocytes) settle at the bottom of a test tube over one hour. 🧪 What ESR Indicates - Inflammation: A faster sedimentation rate often signals inflammation in the body. - Non-specific marker:Read more
The Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) is a simple blood test that measures how quickly red blood cells (erythrocytes) settle at the bottom of a test tube over one hour.
🧪 What ESR Indicates
– Inflammation: A faster sedimentation rate often signals inflammation in the body.
– Non-specific marker: ESR doesn’t diagnose a specific disease but helps detect or monitor conditions like:
– Autoimmune disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus)
– Infections
– Certain cancers
– Kidney and heart diseases
📊 How It Works
– Blood is placed in a vertical tube.
– Red blood cells naturally settle due to gravity.
– Inflammation causes RBCs to clump (rouleaux formation), making them heavier and settle faster.
– The distance they fall is measured in millimeters per hour (mm/hr).
🧬 Common ESR Testing Methods
– Westergren method: Most widely used and considered the gold standard.
– Wintrobe method: Less sensitive, uses a shorter tube.
🩺 Clinical Use
– Diagnosis: Helps identify if inflammation is present.
See less– Monitoring: Tracks disease progression or response to treatment.