Red blood cells settle at a faster rate in people with inflammatory conditions. These conditions trigger an inflammatory process in the body, which leads to an increase in the number of proteins in the blood.
This increase causes red blood cells to clump together and settle more quickly. People whose red blood cells settle faster will have elevated ESR values, indicating to doctors that a medical condition may be present. The result of the ESR test is the amount of plasma remaining at the top of the test tube after 1 hour. The test is not specific to a particular condition, which means that doctors have to use the results alongside other clinical information to make an accurate diagnosis and determine whether or not the individual has a disease.
People with ESR results outside the standard range may have a medical condition. However, it is possible that people whose ESR value is slightly high may have one of the following conditions:. Doctors will typically compare the ESR test result with other test results to confirm a suspected diagnosis. They will also consider the symptoms and signs that a person is experiencing and their personal and family medical history. The ESR test is simple and quick, taking just a few minutes to complete.
The procedure is very safe and poses few risks. People who take the test may feel a slight sting when the needle pricks the arm. Some people may bleed slightly where the needle pierces the skin, and others may feel temporarily faint or dizzy.
After the test, people may get a small bruise at the puncture site or experience mild soreness in the arm, which can last for a few days. In more sensitive people, this bruising may turn into a hematoma. People with abnormal ESR values may not always have a medical condition that requires treatment.
Slightly higher levels can also occur due to pregnancy, menstruation, or advancing age. A needle is used to draw blood from a vein in your arm or hand.
Having a blood test with a needle carries some risks. These include bleeding, infection, bruising, and feeling lightheaded. When the needle pricks your arm or hand, you may feel a slight sting or pain. Afterward, the site may be sore. You don't need to prepare for this test. Be sure your healthcare provider knows about all medicines, herbs, vitamins, and supplements you are taking. This includes medicines that don't need a prescription and any illicit drugs you may use.
Tell your provider if you ate a fatty meal recently, if you are having your period, or if you may be pregnant. Search Encyclopedia. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Does this test have other names? ESR, sed rate What is this test? Why do I need this test? These diseases include: Temporal arteritis Rheumatoid arthritis Polymyalgia rheumatica ESR is not used as a screening test in people who do not have symptoms or to diagnose disease because many conditions can cause it to increase.
What other tests might I have along with this test? What do my test results mean? A blood sample is taken and put in a tube that contains a chemical to stop the blood from clotting.
The tube is left to stand upright. The red blood cells erythrocytes gradually fall to the bottom of the tube as a sediment. The clear liquid plasma is left at the top.
The ESR measures the rate at which the red blood cells separate from the plasma and fall to the bottom of a test tube. This is easy to measure as there will be a number of millimetres of clear liquid at the top of the red blood after one hour. If certain proteins cover red cells, these will stick to each other and cause the red cells to fall more quickly. So, a high ESR indicates that you have some inflammation, somewhere in the body.
This is sometimes called an acute phase protein. This means that the level of CRP increases when you have certain diseases which cause inflammation. CRP can be measured in a blood sample. It is another marker of inflammation. However, it is more difficult to perform and is not as widely used as ESR testing.
These 'normal ranges' provide a guide. The importance of the test result therefore needs to be considered in the context of each individual person. Some conditions lower the ESR - for example, heart failure , polycythaemia and sickle-cell anaemia. It is also lowered in conditions where your body has lower protein levels - for example, in some liver or kidney diseases.
In other words, a raised level means that 'something is going on' but further tests will be needed to clarify exactly what that is. For example, you may be unwell but the cause may not be clear. This may prompt a doctor to do further tests to find the cause.
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