• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

THE BRIGHTEST HUB FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS

  • Home
  • Health
  • Medicine
  • Alternative Medicine
  • Diet and Nutrition

ESR Blood Test: Normal Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Result

May 24, 2010 by rfcamat 33 Comments

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR, Sed Rate, Sedimentation Rate) is a laboratory blood test that indirectly measures the degree of inflammation in the body. It measures the rate of settling or sedimentation of red blood cells (erythrocytes) in a tall, thin tube of blood collected from a patient.

Proteins produced during inflammation cause erythrocytes to move close together and stack up in a group. When red blood cells are in group, they become heavier (denser) so they settle faster. The further erythrocytes settle and the faster they fall, the higher is the value of ESR. ESR blood test result is reported as how many millimeters of plasma (clear, yellowish fluid component of the blood) are present at the top of the thin tube in one hour.
[ad#co-1]

Uses of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)

ESR blood test helps in the diagnosis of conditions associated with acute and chronic inflammation such as infections, cancers, and autoimmune diseases. Although ESR blood test can tell that there is inflammation in the body, it cannot tell what condition or disease is causing the inflammation. Doctors use ESR blood test result in conjunction with other clinical findings, laboratory test results, and the patient’s health history in diagnosing the disease of a patient.

There are many conditions that may cause inflammation and increase ESR: rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, anemia, endocarditis, kidney diseases, osteomyelitis, tuberculosis, syphilis, thyroid disease, rheumatic fever, systemic body infection, giant cell arteritis, pregnancy, multiple myeloma, polymyalgia, vasculitis, and other inflammatory diseases.

There are also conditions that result in lower-than-normal ESR: sickle cell anemia, polycythemia, blood hyperviscosity, low plasma protein due to certain diseases, decreased blood fibrinogen levels (hypofibrinogenemia), and congestive health failure.

Normal Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)

There are two laboratory methods in measuring erythrocyte sedimentation rate: the Westergren and Wintrobe method. The Westergren method is used in most laboratories worldwide. Below are the normal ESR results using Westergren method (in millimeters per hour (mm/hr) :

Adults

-Less than 15 mm/hr for men under 50 yrs old

-Less than 20 mm/hr for women under 50 years old

-Less than 20 mm/hr for men over 50 yrs old

-Less than 30 mm/hr for women over 50 years old

Children

  • 0-2 mm/hr for newborns
  • 3-12 mm/hr for children in neonatal and puberty stage

[ad#afterpost]

Filed Under: Medicine, Transferred post

READ MORE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Raymund is a biologist by profession but with wide interest on nutrition and healthy living. He is currently a health and wellness writer in an American online publication. Blogging is one of his favorite hobbies.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. christine khan says

    September 20, 2010 at 11:51 pm

    hello, i had the esr test done last week . and it said 50 mm/hr im a female 43 yrs , and had open heart surgery january 2009. I want to know what it means exactly.

    Log in to Reply
    • R.F. Camat says

      September 21, 2010 at 11:36 am

      I wish I could answer your question, but I cannot give medical advice. Please talk to your doctor. I hope it is not something to worry about. I wish you good health. Thank you for visiting my site.

      Log in to Reply
    • Richard Newmark says

      March 10, 2011 at 1:57 am

      I am a 84yr. old male. Have Chronic Venous Insufficiencency being treated.
      My ESR is 44mm/hr.
      Would this be a cause of a elevated ESR?

      Log in to Reply
      • admin says

        March 10, 2011 at 7:31 am

        Please talk to your doctor. Thanks.

        Log in to Reply
    • purushottam poddar says

      August 31, 2011 at 1:55 pm

      I am 62 yr, i have done a ESR report 2 days back and it was 69. Doctor told me i am suffering from TB, i just want 2 know how did the doctor conclude it , there are many diseases ment in the report. i do not cough as much as a TB patient do.

      Log in to Reply
  2. leslee says

    October 4, 2010 at 2:49 pm

    hi. i had a sed rate done this past friday and my level was 80. i am a 45 year old female and just had a physical where everything was good except the numbness in my toes and pain in my feet. could you give me a couple of ideas of what these numbers could indicate? thanks lesee aurora, colorado

    Log in to Reply
  3. Connie says

    October 4, 2010 at 4:22 pm

    Hi. I’m a 36 yr old lady which had a couple of blood tests the past few weeks. My esr went from 31 to 36 in a space of one week. WBC and neuts were high as well. Plus it says on my lab results monocytosis and esonophilia. What us your opinion on that?thanks.

    Log in to Reply
    • R.F. Camat says

      October 5, 2010 at 1:08 pm

      Pls. talk to your doctor about this. I cannot give medical advice online. Thank you.

      Log in to Reply
  4. Fahi Sheikh says

    October 5, 2010 at 11:07 am

    hi, i am 27 years old girl, i have got a high ESR since 7 years ago, the only symtom that I have is rashes on my leg which apears whenever I stand oin my feet for a long time. i have ANA Positive as well.
    I ‘m realy afraid of SLE.thank you for your cooments

    Log in to Reply
    • R.F. Camat says

      October 5, 2010 at 1:11 pm

      There’s nothing to worry much on those rashes. Take note that being an ANA Positive doesn’t mean that you are going to have SLE. More tests are needed to diagnose SLE. Please talk to your doctor for more information. Thank you.

      Log in to Reply
  5. alex says

    October 12, 2010 at 10:08 pm

    my daughter is 5 her esr came in yesterday at 81 and platelets of 4.33 which are both over the should be range can anyone offer me some advice ?

    Log in to Reply
  6. Baffa says

    November 3, 2010 at 9:03 pm

    What does an ESR of 17 mm/hr for a male person of > 50ys signifies. just discovered under routine lab check all other value are within normal range

    Log in to Reply
  7. hina says

    November 16, 2010 at 9:58 pm

    my Esr is 25 nd my age is 19 aym suffering from rheumatoid fever

    Log in to Reply
  8. pranjali says

    November 24, 2010 at 8:19 pm

    my ESR is 40mm/hr.how can i level these.i want to get pregnent,so it’s affect me or not

    Log in to Reply
    • R.F. Camat says

      November 25, 2010 at 10:35 am

      Please talk to your doctor about this. Thanks and good luck.

      Log in to Reply
  9. Benjamin Shit says

    December 25, 2010 at 12:55 am

    Hi,
    My ESR is 36 mm/1 hrs and my Lymphocytes 3.4 x10(9)/L while my Neutrophhils 3.2 x10(9)/L. What does this mean?

    Log in to Reply
  10. Deb says

    December 25, 2010 at 5:23 am

    What does an “indeterminate” rate of 6mm mean?

    Log in to Reply
  11. Midwest says

    January 2, 2011 at 1:07 pm

    Why does anemia cause an elevated SED rate?

    Log in to Reply
  12. ashutosh kumar says

    January 21, 2011 at 4:24 pm

    sir, my wife is pregnant and her esr is120mm/h. what are the possibilities and prevention for this?

    Log in to Reply
    • Jack says

      August 13, 2011 at 12:14 pm

      An elevated ESR is a normal physiological response of pregnancy and should not cause any concern.
      Any lab results need to be taken into account with other lab and clinical findings. So a single test outside of ‘normal refernce ranges’ should not cause too much concern, least of all a non-specific ancient test like an ESR.

      Log in to Reply
  13. Kelly says

    January 28, 2011 at 1:03 am

    I have an Sed Rate of 38MM. It has continued to steadily climb for the past 3 years. I started out as extremely anemic but, now have that under control…yet, the rate continues to climb. I have been under a doctor’s care and she seems to be out of ideas.
    The biggest problem is my pain. I have horrible pain that generates from my bones. (A bone scan revealed nothing.) Recently, the pain was more than usual and I had the SR test done again and my Rate was higher than ever. Please help me to find something to look for that can connect the two: pain and the SR. I hurt so badly on days like that one that I just felt miserable. Please note if you have ever heard of such.

    Log in to Reply
  14. Bolino says

    January 29, 2011 at 2:57 am

    To All who sought answers to lab result as I Have:
    Pleas go to Wikipedia for information about ESR, along with Google to research this Lab Result. It basically measures your red blood cell sedimentation rate, which is used to measure and detect the presence of inflammation in the body. The causes of that inflammation are described for various types of causes and usually part of a series of blood tests ordered by Physicians. Take all the information and do a Google and Wikipedia search for the results. In most cases, especially at Kaiser Permanente, short explanations about the use and indicator is given. Further research on your part will give you a better understanding of the ‘Range of results”. A conversation with your Medical Practitioner will give you more insight and is an effective way of getting professional advice. None of us, including myself, cannot advise you legally or medically because we are not Physicians, and, because they have the training we don’t to put all the results into a Correct perspective for your understanding. I’ve gotten more pre-appointment information this way and it helps me to focus on the question-answer session, with my Doctor, to understand the importance of his advise. With all good wishes and hopes for your better health..pjb

    Log in to Reply
  15. sreenivasan says

    February 9, 2011 at 8:23 pm

    Can i know from ESR test HIV infected or not . I tested ESR now normal

    Log in to Reply
  16. dipika says

    February 12, 2011 at 6:49 pm

    MY ESR IS 42 WHATS DE MEANING OF THAT WHAT IS MY DEASIES

    Log in to Reply
  17. gorgeous grey says

    February 16, 2011 at 2:44 pm

    y in polycythemia….esr is decreased despite the rise in no. of RBCs….???

    Log in to Reply
  18. raja says

    March 24, 2011 at 4:50 pm

    my esr is 40 what does it mean. i got kneepain swelling,

    Log in to Reply
  19. Nisha Awasthi says

    March 28, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    My age 32yrs ESR test done 24mm/hour (Western green)
    Plz tell me TB Yes/NO
    C/o Lower Back pain last two month

    Log in to Reply
  20. gagan says

    April 25, 2011 at 12:12 am

    my esr is 8mm/hr.polycemic condition.hmmmmmmm

    Log in to Reply
  21. dipesh vithal says

    May 26, 2011 at 10:20 pm

    My husband esr is 85 age 38

    Log in to Reply
  22. Mamun says

    May 29, 2011 at 11:53 pm

    my daughter age 1 yr. her ESR 45mm/hr, what is that mean, any prb

    Log in to Reply
    • admin says

      May 30, 2011 at 2:05 pm

      Please talk to your doctor about the result of the test. I hope you daughter is ok. God bless 🙂

      Log in to Reply
  23. neha says

    June 3, 2011 at 1:57 pm

    hii my daughter is 5 years old…15 days back she had typoid where ger ESR rate was 102 bt now it has come down to 37 after 15 days.. her Zosef and Zanocin medicine is still on .///can u pls suggets me if 37 is normal as ESR rate or still precation needs to be taken fr relapse of Typoid..????

    Log in to Reply
  24. joleeka says

    August 16, 2011 at 5:23 pm

    ESR can help in the diagnosis of condition associated with acute Chronic. but How can we know it is in chronic or acute phase ?

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

RECENT ARTICLES

  • Why Do I Feel Tired After Eating?
  • Adverse Effects of Artificial Food Coloring on Children
  • List of Flowers You Can Eat and Their Health Benefits
  • Tips on How to Boost Your Metabolism
  • Best Workout Music for the iPod
  • What is the average bench press for a man?
  • Top 5 Healthiest Types of Cooking Oil
  • The Best Exercises for an Apple Body Shape
  • Beyonce’s Workout Secrets for a Sexy Physique
  • How Healthy Can Kimchi Be?

TOPICS

  • Allergies (5)
  • Alternative Medicine (22)
  • Biology (28)
  • Chemistry (1)
  • Diet and Nutrition (9)
  • Environmental Science (8)
  • Genetics (19)
  • Health (126)
  • Laboratory Tests (5)
  • Medicine (71)
  • Physical Fitness (1)
  • Science and Technology (1)
  • Transferred post (59)
  • Uncategorized (3)

Footer

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

The contents of the TheBrightestHub.com Site, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the TheBrightestHub.com Site (“Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the TheBrightestHub.com Site.

Copyright © 2023 · Genesis Sample on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

7ads6x98y