ESR Blood Test

ESR is the short for erythrocyte sedimentation rate; also known as sed rate or sedimentation rate. The ESR blood test is among the cost-effective, easy and non specific tests, which are employed to determine the extent of inflammation in the body, which include infections, cancers and autoimmune diseases. The reason this test is attributed as a non specific test is its limitation to determine the exact location of the body where the inflammation has occurred or what condition has caused the same. This is the reason this test is conducted in conjunction with other tests, so as to come up with a proper diagnosis of the medical condition.

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Blood Test Results Explained

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate test, as the name suggests, deals with the sedimentation of the erythrocytes (mature blood cells that contain hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the bodily tissues). The test begins with a certain amount of blood being drawn from the patient and stored in a tube. This tube is then, left undisturbed and in an upright position. Over time, the red blood cells will start descending. Now depending upon the rate at which the red blood cells descend in an hour, the ESR value is measured and reported in mm/hr. What happens when the body is suffering from inflammation, the red blood cells are caused to stick to each other. This occurs due to the increased proportion of fibrinogen. Thereafter, the blood cells develop stacks known as rouleaux, and this substance has a tendency to settle faster. Hence, the faster the red blood cells descends, the more inflammation is considered to be present in the body.

Normal Values

Age	Measure (mm/hr)
Men under 50	Below 15
Men over 50	Below 20
Women under 50	Below 20
Women over 50	Below 30
Newborn	0 - 2
Neonatal to puberty	3 - 13

An ESR level that shows a moderate increase than the normal one is indicative of inflammation and other conditions like aging, pregnancy, anemia and certain infections. When ESR blood test measures shoots up to a very high range, then there arise speculations about severe infection, multiple myeloma (tumor of the bone marrow) or Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system), polymyalgia rheumatica (inflammatory condition of the muscle) and temporal arteritis [inflammation of the temporal arteries; characterized by headaches and difficulty chewing and (sometimes) visual impairment].

With an ESR test which shows a rising level, it is merely an increasing inflammation. Talking about lower than normal levels, although not very significant, polycythemia, extreme leukocytosis, protein abnormalities and sickle cell anemia, may be the possible inferences.

Apart from the above ones, there may be other conditions, as well. So this makes it necessary and essential that your results find a way into a discussion with your doctor. Equally important, is to let the doctor know about any medicines you are on. What I did not mention is, a person may have a normal ESR rate but may still be suffering from some problems. That is why doctors do not draw inferences solely adhering to the ESR results. As aforesaid, there are other tests conducted as well.