Assay

Paediatric Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)

Key Words

Paediatric Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, ESR

Specimen Collection

1.3ml EDTA (Red lid). Only request for children <10 years old. Only request when child cannot have a full 3.4 ml EDTA sample taken for standard ESR. Only request for children where an ESR will be a strong diagnostic indicator. Fill to mark. If ordered with FBC, this test requires an extra full 1.3ml sample in addition to the FBC sample. ESR tests may be added on to samples that are up to 24 hours old, assuming that an extra sample was initially sent.

Turnaround time

Next working day

Test indications

Chronic inflammation, arthritis, vasculitis, acute phase reactions, acute infection.

Interferences

Hyperalbuminaemia, haemolysis, clot in sample.

Reference Range

0 - 10 years old: 0 - 10 mm/hour. Reference ranges established in-house from local population.

Minimum retesting interval

N/A