ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) - Lab 5 - PDF

Practical Physiology …………………..………………………... Lab. 5 ( / /2024) Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) What is an Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)? An erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a blood test that that can show if you have inflammation in your body. Inflammation is your immune system's...

Practical Physiology …………………..………………………... Lab. 5 ( / /2024) Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) What is an Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)? An erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a blood test that that can show if you have inflammation in your body. Inflammation is your immune system's response to injury, infection, and many types of conditions, including immune system disorders, certain cancers, and blood disorders. To do an ESR test, a sample of your blood is sent to a lab. A health care professional places the sample in a tall, thin test tube and measures how quickly the red blood cells settle or sink to the bottom of the tube. Normally, red blood cells sink slowly. But inflammation makes red blood cells stick together in clumps. If an ESR test shows that your red blood cells sink faster than normal, it may mean you have a medical condition causing inflammation. Faster ESR rates mean higher levels of inflammation. Other names: ESR, SED rate sedimentation rate; Westergren sedimentation rate Q/ whats the symptoms of a condition that causes inflammation OR Why You Might Get a Sed Rate Your doctor might order the sed rate test if you have symptoms like these:  Headaches  Stiff, swollen, or painful joints  Pain in your shoulders, neck, or pelvis (Joint stiffness)  Appetite loss  Weight loss without trying  Unexplained fever  Anemia 1 Practical Physiology …………………..………………………... Lab. 5 ( / /2024) Normal values  Male 50 years old: ≤30 mm/hr  Child: ≤10 mm/hr A high ESR test result may be from a condition that causes inflammation, such as: 1-Arthritis, 2-Systemic vasculitis, 3-Polymyalgia rheumatica (causes stiff and painful muscles), 4-Inflammatory bowel disease, 5-Kidney disease 6-Infection, 7-Rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases(an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks your joints) 8-Heart disease, 9-Certain cancers, 10-Polycythemia very high RBC 11-Sickle cell disease (SCD), 12-Leukocytosis, a white blood cell count (WBC) 13-Heart failure, 14-Certain kidney and liver problems Westergren method Procedure (Note: A health professional will usually draw the blood from a vein) 1. The skin surface is cleaned with antiseptic, and an elastic band (Tourniquet) is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and cause the veins to swell with blood. A needle is inserted into a vein and blood is withdrawn. 2. Add 1.6ml of venous blood into a tube containing 0.4ml of sodium citrate. 3. Draw the anticoagulation blood into the Westergren pipette to zero mm mark. 4. Place the tube in a rack in a vertical position for 1 hour at room temperature. 5. The distance of fall of erythrocytes, expressed as millimeters in 1 hour, is the ESR. Procedure Notes 2 Practical Physiology …………………..………………………... Lab. 5 ( / /2024) Sources of error 1. Age of specimen - must be less than 2 hours at room temperature, less than 6 hours refrigerated. 2. Temperature - must be between 20-25° C and blood must be at room temperature. 3. Incorrect ratio of blood to diluent. 4. Bubbles in the Westergren tube. 5. Vibration such as from a nearby centrifuge will cause a false ESR. 3