About the test
ESR is a non-specific index of inflammation in the human body. It measures how quickly red blood cells settle at the bottom of a glass capillary tube after one hour. The faster the erythrocytes fall at the bottom of the tube, the higher the ESR.
Sample
Blood sample
Preparation
No specific preparation required.
Procedure
Venipuncture
Increased values
- Bacterial infections (pyelonephritis, endocarditis, pneumonia, diverticulitis)
- Autoimmune diseases (Systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatic polymyalgia, temporal arteritis)
- Inflammations (acute pelvic inflammatory disease)
- Anemia of acute or chronic disease
- Malignancies
- Myocardial infarction, pericarditis
- Contraceptives
- Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome
- Crohn’s disease
Additional information
Since ESR is a non-specific test, a diagnosis requires additional laboratory tests and clinical assessment.
Women tend to have a high ESR during menstruation and during pregnancy.
ESR is not a parameter of the total blood count.