Why esr test is done

When your blood is placed in a tall, thin tube, red blood cells erythrocytes gradually settle to the bottom. Inflammation can cause the cells to clump. Because these clumps are denser than individual cells, they settle to the bottom more quickly. The sed rate test measures the distance red blood cells fall in a test tube in one hour. The farther the red blood cells have descended, the greater the inflammatory response of your immune system.

Sed rate tests might be useful when evaluating unexplained fever, some types of arthritis and symptoms that affect your muscles. Also, they can help confirm a diagnosis of certain conditions, including:. A sed rate test can also help determine the severity of your inflammatory response and monitor the effect of treatment. Because a sed rate test can't pinpoint the problem that's causing inflammation in your body, it's usually accompanied by other blood tests, such as the C-reactive protein CRP test.

A phlebotomist, nurse or medical assistant will use a needle to draw blood from a vein, most likely a vein in your arm. After the test, people may get a small bruise at the puncture site or experience mild soreness in the arm, which can last for a few days.

In more sensitive people, this bruising may turn into a hematoma. People with abnormal ESR values may not always have a medical condition that requires treatment. Slightly higher levels can also occur due to pregnancy, menstruation, or advancing age. People taking certain medications, such as oral contraceptives, cortisone, aspirin , and vitamin A, may also have unusual test results. In cases where a non-medical cause or underlying medical condition may be affecting the test result, doctors usually order a second ESR test and other types of test to help make a diagnosis.

If the doctor concludes that someone does have a medical condition, they are likely to prescribe a treatment specific to the condition. Treatment may involve:. An ESR test result outside of the normal range is not necessarily a cause for concern.

There are some non-medical causes of abnormal results. Although doctors cannot diagnose a specific medical condition with an ESR test, the result can establish whether or not there is inflammation in the body. If the test indicates that there may be an issue, doctors will need to order further tests and get additional clinical information to make an accurate diagnosis. Sickle cell disease is an inherited condition that can have life threatening consequences.

Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results. An ESR does not specifically diagnose any diseases, but it can provide information about whether or not there is inflammation in your body. If your ESR results are abnormal, your health care provider will need more information and will likely order more lab tests before making a diagnosis.

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. What is an erythrocyte sedimentation rate ESR? What is it used for? Why do I need an ESR? What happens during an ESR? Will I need to do anything to prepare for an ESR? C-reactive protein is a better indicator of inflammation than the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It is more sensitive and responds more quickly to changes Read more on Australian Prescriber website.

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