All about ESR Blood Test

ESR blood test basically refers to erythrocyte sedimentation rate blood test which is used to determine characteristics associated with chronic and acute inflammation, cancers and other acute infections. ESR blood test is a non complex, inexpensive and easy test and has been used for many years. It’s not only an easy test, but also a non specific test because it fails to tell where exactly the inflammation is in the body or the reason behind the inflammation. The test also doesn’t specify the cause or major reason behind that inflammation.

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate tells us about the rate at which RBCs sediment in a period of 60 minutes. ESR is also known as Sedimentation Rate (SED rate) or Biernacki Reaction and it provides a non specific measure of the inflammation. In order to carry out the ESR blood test, ant coagulated blood is collected in a test tube and the rate at which the RBCs fall is noted down. It is measured and reported in mm/h. Earlier everything used to be noted down manually, however the introduction of automated analyzers has facilitated the ESR test to be performed automatically. For men under the age of 50 years, the ESR range is less than or equal to 50mm. For women under the age of 50 years, the ESR range is less than or equal to 20mm. However for men over the age of 50 years the range is less than or equal to 20mm and for females over 50 years the range is less than or equal to 30mm. There is an increase in the ESR due to inflammation; however anemia, infection and pregnancy also result in an increased Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate. Low ESR isn’t considered as a major problem and it occurs basically due to some protein abnormalities and leukocytosis. Increase in the ESR results in increase in the inflammation and suggests that the patient isn’t responding properly to the therapy while a decrease in the ESR is considered as a very good sign.

C-reactive protein

During inflammation or an inflammatory reaction the liver produces C-reactive protein which is an acute phase protein. C-reactive protein and ESR blood test are very closely related as ESR is used to measure the rising C-reactive protein levels due to inflammation. The CRP can easily be measured in a blood sample.

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ESR and CRP Blood Test

CRP Blood Test stands for C-reactive protein and is a non specific test similar to ESR blood test. As in the case of ESR test, CRP test is also used to provide a measure of the inflammation due to some infection or tissue injury. Like ESR test fails to detect the exact location of the inflammation, CRP blood test also fails to do so and cannot detect the cause of the inflammation. However the test can be coupled with some other tests to detect the acute or chronic inflammatory condition.

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