Assay

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)

Key Words

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, ESR

Specimen Collection

3.4ml EDTA only (Red lid) for all patients >10 years old and where possible any patients <10 years old (where not possible for patients <10 years old, refer to the paediatric ESR test). Carried out on the Full Blood Count specimen, fill to mark. ESR tests may be added on to samples that are up to 24 hours old, if there is sufficient sample remaining for the test. For paediatric samples, please refer to the Paediatric ESR test.

Turnaround time

Next working day

Test indications

Polymyalgia Rheumatica, chronic inflammation, vasculitis, temporal arteritis, myeloma, acute phase reactions, acute infection.

Interferences

Hyperalbuminaemia, haemolysis, clot in sample.

Reference Range

See table below. Reference ranges established in-house from local population.

Minimum retesting interval

N/A