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Test Name:
Sedimentation Rate
- SBMF No:
25230 - Performance Lab Name:
Hematology - Test Mnemonic:
SED RATE - ABN:
May be required – Medical Necessity - CPT Code:
85652 - LOINC Code:
4537-7 - Also Known As:
ESR
Sed Rate
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate - Spec Type:
Whole blood - Spec Container:
Lavender top (EDTA) tube - Pref Vol:
5.0 mL - Min Vol:
1.5 mL - Fasting:
No - Spec Collect:
Routine venipuncture
Tube must fill to three-quarters, or greater, of vacuum capacity
Immediately after collection, gently invert tube to mix - Spec Process:
Do not centrifuge
Do not remove plasma from cells - Spec Store Transport:
Refrigerated - Spec Stability:
4 hours room temperature (20-30°C)
24 hours refrigerated (2-8°C) - Spec Reject:
Hemolyzed sample
Sample received more than 24 hours after collection
Sample collected with microtainer device - Methodology:
Westergren - Use:
The sedimentation rate is used as a screening test for the presence of infection and to diagnose and to monitor the progress of chronic inflammatory processes such as rheumatoid arthritis, temporal arteritis or polymyalgia rheumatica - Clinical Significance:
The Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) is often used as an indirect measure of temporal arteritis activity as well as to help guide dosage adjustments and corticosteroids. The ESR is valuable in identifying patients with active temporal arteritis and those experiencing a recurrence. There is, however, no correlation between the elevation of the ESR and the severity of the disease. Temporal arteritis in an autoimmune disease of the elderly causing a chronic inflammation of the branches of the aortic arch that can lead to blindness or stroke. The ESR is believed to depend primarily, but not exclusively, on the concentration of asymmetric macro-molecules, primarily fibrinogen and gamma globulin, and on the concentration of erythrocytes in plasma. Because the concentrations of fibrinogen or gamma globulin, or both, are commonly elevated in inflammatory disease, the sedimentation rate is used as a screening test for the presence of infection and to diagnose and to monitor the progress of chronic inflammatory processes such as rheumatoid arthritis, temporal arteritis or polymyalgia rheumatica. - Reference Range:
Male (under 50): 0-15 mm/hour
Male (over 50): 0-20 mm/hour
Female (under 50): 0-20 mm/hour
Female (over 50): 0-30 mm/hour - Day Run:
Sun-Sat (daily) - Time Run:
As received - Time Reported:
4 hours - Test Type:
HEMATOLOGY
