Book ESR TEST

Keep in mind the following points

• Don’t eat anything for 8-12 hours before the ESR test because the ESR test requires a fasting specimen.
• Make sure your doctor is aware of all the medications, herbs, vitamins, and supplements you’re taking.
• Tell your doctor if you just ate a fatty meal, if you’re on your period, or if you think you’re pregnant.

An ESR test is performed to monitor how diseases like the ones listed below are progressing or responding to therapy.

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Temporal arteritis
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Systemic vasculitis

ESR test is done when your body develops the following symptoms:

• Anemia
• Neck or shoulder discomfort
• Pelvic pain
• Headaches
• Low appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fever
• Joint stiffness

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR or sed rate) is an excellent indicator of inflammation in the body. The test examines the rate at which erythrocytes (red blood cells) descend (sediment) in a blood sample that has been deposited into a tall, thin, vertical tube. The millimeters of clear fluid (plasma) present at the upper section of the tube after one hour are reported as the result.

When a drop of blood is inserted into a tube, the red blood cells settle out slowly, leaving just a little amount of transparent plasma. In the presence of an elevated number of proteins, particularly proteins known as acute-phase reactants, red cells settle at a quicker pace. Inflammation raises the levels of acute-phase reactants including C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen in the blood.

Inflammation is a normal aspect of the immune system’s reaction. It might be acute, as in emerging quickly after a shock, injury, or infection, or persistent, as in autoimmune illnesses or cancer.

The ESR blood test is a non-specific test that can be increased in a variety of diseases. It gives you broad information regarding whether or not you have an inflammatory condition.

Keep the following considerations in mind:

• You may notice a minor bruise at the puncture site.
• Slight pain in the arm after the test, which can last for a few days.

There is usually no such risk associated with the ESR test.

Reference Range:

• Polycythemia
• Congestive heart failure
• Allergic states
• Sickle cell anemia