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Test Code LAB4187 SEDIMENTATION RATE

Important Note

MICROTAINERS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE TUBE TYPE FOR SEDIMENTATION RATE TESTING.

Specimen Type

EDTA Whole Blood (Lavender Top Tube)

Specimen Volume

4 mL

Minimum Volume

1.5 mL

Turnaround Time

STAT: 1 hour
Routine: 4 hours

Test Schedule

Daily

Sample Stability

Refrigerated/Room Temperature: 24 hours

Reference Ranges

Sed Rate mm/h

      Male  0-15

      Female 0-25

Synonyms

ESR; Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate

CPT Codes

85652

Test Components

Sed Rate, mm/h.

Clinical Information

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is the rate in millimeters per hour that red blood cells (RBC) settle out of plasma in anticoagulated whole blood. The rate of RBC settling is affected by three factors:

  1. Red blood cell number, shape, and size
  2. Mechanical and technical factors (e.g., temperature, tube diameter, bubbles, etc.)
  3. Plasma factors

 

The presence of fibrinogen, alpha-2-globulin, beta, and gamma globulins decreases the red blood cell zeta potential, promoting rouleaux which results in a faster sedimentation rate. The ESR thus reflects changes in plasma proteins which accompany acute and chronic infections, inflammation, malignancy, multiple myeloma, macroglobulinemia and hyperfibrinogenemia. It is used primarily to follow the progress of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis during treatment.