Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Blood

Overview
Department	Haematology
Test Code	ESR
Synonyms	ESR   Sedimentation rate
Base Lab Availability	Monday - Sunday, testing routinely available out of hours
Hawera Lab Availability	Monday - Friday 8 am - 3 pm
Turnaround Time	1.5-4 hrs
Stability – Add test	12 hrs
Specimen Requirements
Specimen	Whole Blood
Preferred	1.3mL Black-Top Monosed ESR tube, fill between guide lines.
Acceptable	2mL minimum EDTA Purple-Top
Unacceptable	Clotted Sample Patients with cold agglutinins Under or overfilled black tube Samples older than 12 hours
Specimen Transportation	Please affix patient labels to top half of tube, do not cover the glass end.
Paediatric Requirements
Aliquot Requirements
Sample Type
Preferred Volume
Minimum Volume
Aliquot Transportation
Clinical Information
Reference Intervals	Age Mm/hr 1-30 years 1-10 31-50 years 1-15 51-70 years 1-20 71+ years 1-30
Test Method	Modified Westergen Method performed on Mixrate X20 analyser
Advanced Notice	Not required
Patient Preparation	Not required
Comments
The ESR is a non-specific test that has limited utility in the monitoring, and diagnosis of diseases that are associated with the acute phase response. This is because analysis methods used to measure the ESR show poor precision and there is significant variation between different methods used.  CRP is the preferred test when assessing inflammatory disease.   The laboratory will only process a request for an ESR if the request has been discussed with a Pathologist/Haematologist, or if one of the following indications is documented legibly on the request form:   SLE   Rheumatoid arthritis   Kawasaki disease   Rheumatic fever   Hodgkins's lymphoma   Giant cell/temporal arteritis   Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)   Prosthetic joint infection   Vasculitis   Any insurance company request   Any request by a Rheumatologist   A CRP will be substituted when an ESR has been requested without these criteria being met, provided that an appropriate sample has been received.   ESRs will only be available on serial cards after consultation with a Haematologist.

Owner	Craig Mabbett (Mabbett1)
Last reviewed	03.10.2025
Next review	03.10.2026 (Due soon)