Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

Erythrocytes are red blood cells. The sedimentation rate is the time it takes for your red blood cells to settle at the bottom of a test tube. An erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a blood test that can show if you have inflammation in your body. Inflammation is your immune system's response to injury, infection, and many other conditions, including immune system disorders, certain cancers, and blood disorders.

An ESR test can be used with other tests to help diagnose and monitor conditions that cause inflammation. Many conditions cause inflammation, including arthritis, vasculitis, infections, and inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease). An ESR may also be used to monitor an existing condition.

Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine

Normal range

2 published ranges, each from a named source

40 mm/hour drawn: female, ≤ 50 y · LabCorp Test Directory

Female · ≤ 50 y: 0–40 mm/hour
Male · ≤ 50 y: 0–30 mm/hour

Ranges from LabCorp Test Directory.

All source ranges (2)

Source	Sex	Age	Range
LabCorp Test Directory	Female	≤ 50 y	0–40 mm/hour
LabCorp Test Directory	Male	≤ 50 y	0–30 mm/hour

What an abnormal result can be associated with

A high result: Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate
A low result: Decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate

Associations from LOINC2HPO (Human Phenotype Ontology). This is reference information, not a diagnosis: only a clinician can interpret your result in context.

details

Sample: Whole blood · LOINC
Listed under: Autoimmune Diseases · Giant Cell Arteritis · Kawasaki Disease · Osteoarthritis · Polymyalgia Rheumatica · Raynaud Phenomenon · Rheumatoid Arthritis · Vasculitis
Code: LOINC 4537-7 · mm/hour
Also known as: Discocyte, Erc, Erythrocyte, Red blood cell, Red cell

See your own Erythrocyte sedimentation rate Add a lab report and it is drawn against your lab's range, over time. Upload a Blood Test