Purpose of the test

ESR stands for Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate. Commonly known as the “sed rate”, it is a test that helps check for the presence of a disease, infection or condition in the body that may be causing inflammation. Though, it does not directly help in diagnosing a particular condition, it helps physicians know what other tests may be needed to detect the actual problem. It’s also a way to examine how well a person is doing to a specific treatment for a disease he/she is being treated.

What does the test measure?

This test measures the rate of fall (sedimentation) of erythrocytes (red blood cells) in a sample of blood that has been placed into a tall, thin, vertical tube. Results are reported as the millimeters of clear fluid (plasma) that are present at the top portion of the tube after one hour.

This test contains a tall, thin tube which in turn holds a sample of your blood. The pace at which the red blood cells fall to the bottom of the tube is measured. Inflammation can cause severe problems which can form abnormal proteins to appear in your blood. These proteins cause your red blood cells to clump together. This makes them fall more quickly.

Inflammation is part of the body’s immune response. It has the tendency to develop rapidly after injury, infection or trauma. Let’s say for example, it can also occur over an extended time (chronic) with conditions such as autoimmune diseases or cancer.The ESR is not diagnostic, rather it is a non-specific test that gets elevated in a number of these different conditions. It also provides general knowledge about the presence or absence of an inflammatory condition.

An ESR test can study inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid, systemic lupus erythematosus and arthritis. Suchkind of tests might also be the reason behind a person who is suffering from high fever, arthritis or some kind ofmuscle problems.

When should I get the test performed?

An ESR test may be appropriate if you have unexplained symptoms like a fever, muscle or joint pain, or other problems without a clear cause. In these situations, an ESR is usually combined with other tests, such as a complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, and arthritis tests, to evaluate your overall health and look for signs of specific health problems.

FAQ

What can the findings of the test indicate?

There are a plethora of reasons that can cause high ESR rate in the body. Some common conditions include:-

• A disease in the kidneys,

• Anemia

• Lymphoma

• Temporal Arteritis

• Old age factor

• Pregnancy

• Multiple myeloma

• Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia

• A particular type of arthritis

• Thyroid disease

A test result higher than normal may also be associated with an autoimmune disorder, such as:-

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Polymyalgia rheumatica

• Systemic lupus erythematosus

• Giant cell arteritis

• Allergic or necrotizing vasculitis

• Primary macroglobulinemia

Certain kinds of infections too can cause the ESR test results to deviate from their normal range values. These include:-

• Heart infection

• Rheumatic Fever

• Bone infection

• Heart Valve infection

• Systemic infection

• Tuberculosis

• Skin infection

• Lower ESR Test Results

A low ESR rate is generally not considered a problem. However, if the value to too low, it is an indicator that a person may be suffering from one or a combination of the below mentioned conditions.

• Sickle cell anemia

• Congestive heart failure

• Hyperviscosity

• Leukocytosis

• Hypofibrinogenemia (low fibrinogen level)

• Polycythemia

• Low plasma protein (liver or kidney disease)

Some typical causes of abnormal ESR Blood Test results are more severe than others and may be a matter of concern. The best is to talk to the physician and draw conclusion on how to bring the ESR rate back to normal.

Does this test require any special preparation?

Unless specified by your doctor, there is no special preparation required.