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What is an ESR test?
If the doctor suspects high levels of inflammation in the body, they may advise a blood test called an ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) test. An ESR is a test performed in a blood sample that quantifies how fast erythrocytes, i.e., RBC (red cells), settle at the bottom of a test tube.
An ESR test helps you diagnose not one particular condition. Instead, it will help your healthcare practitioner determine if you are suffering from any inflammation and what further testing may be required. The ESR test is also used to keep track of the inflammatory diseases you already have.
Side effects of ESR test
There are not many side effects of having an ESR test. You might feel slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was inserted, but most symptoms go away quickly.
What is an ESR test used for?
An ESR blood test is used if you have signs of inflammation or infection. ESR tests can help diagnose the following conditions:
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Lupus
- Temporal Arteritis
- Systemic Vasculitis
ESR tests can also help doctors see how well treatment for inflammation or infection works.
Understanding the test results of ESR test
The reference range of ESR in males is ≤15 mm/hr, and in women, it is ≤ 20 mm/hr. The normal reference range for ESR values varies by laboratory.
There are multiple conditions that may result in high or low ESR levels, such as
An increased ESR rate may be due to some infections, including:
- Arthritis
- Systemic Vasculitis
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Kidney diseases
- Infection
- Autoimmune diseases
- Heart diseases
- Certain cancers
Lower than normal levels occur with:
- Blood disorders (Polycythemia, Sickle cell disease (SCD), Leukocytosis)
- Heart failure
- Certain kidney and liver problems
An ESR test alone cannot diagnose inflammatory conditions. Your healthcare provider will make a diagnosis based on the results of your ESR test, as well as your medical history, symptoms, and other test results.Â
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is the normal range of the ESR Test?
The ESR normal range for men is 0 to 15 mm/hr, while the normal range for women is 0 to 20 mm/hr. This test is nonspecific and only indicates the presence or absence of inflammation in the body. Therefore, doctors usually rely on other laboratory tests, clinical observations, and a person's medical history in conjunction with the ESR test results to make a diagnosis.
2. Why do I need an ESR Test?
You might need an ESR test if you have symptoms of an inflammatory disorder. These include:
- Unintentional weight loss
- Headaches
- Joint pain or stiffness
- Fever
- Pain in neck, shoulders, and pelvis
- Diarrhoea
- Unusual abdominal pain
- Blood in the stool
3. What is the ESR test procedure?
- A healthcare practitioner will draw a small amount of blood from your vein using a small needle
- After the needle is inserted, they will draw blood and then collect it in a vial.Â
- You might feel stung once the needle goes in and out
- The entire process takes less than 5 minutes.
4. Is high ESR good or bad?
A moderate ESR may indicate pregnancy, menstruation, or anaemia rather than an inflammatory disease. The higher the ESR levels, the higher the likelihood of inflammation, which suggests a serious health condition or infection.
5. What diseases cause high ESR?
There are many causes of a high ESR test result. Some common conditions associated with a higher rate include:
- Tissue injury or ischemia
- Certain types of cancer, including some types of lymphoma and multiple myeloma systemic
- Localised inflammatory and infectious diseases
- Pregnancy
- Anaemia
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Older age
- Vasculitis
- Thyroid disease
- Obesity
- Heart disease
6. What is a high ESR level?
Values higher than 100 mm/hr are considered high in ESR and could suggest infection or serious diseases such as heart disease, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, or necrotizing vasculitis.
7. Can stress cause high ESR?
The exact process by which exposure to stress causes an increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is not yet fully understood. However, it has been established that there is a connection between stress and the proteins, which results in a rise in ESR levels.
8. Does viral infection increase ESR?
Slightly elevated ESR levels are predictive during a viral infection. The mean ESR during most viral upper respiratory tract infections is approximately 20 mm/hr, with adenovirus infections in which the mean ESR can be 40 mm/hr.
9. Why is ESR high in females?
Women have slightly higher ESR levels than men. Causes of a high ESR count in females include autoimmune diseases, infections, anaemia, pregnancy, and cancer. However, a high ESR alone is not enough to diagnose a specific health condition and requires further evaluation by a healthcare professional.
10. What is the ESR level in cancer patients?
ESR is a non-specific test that can be elevated in many conditions, including cancer. An elevated ESR level in cancer patients may be due to inflammation caused by the cancer or the body's response to it. However, there is no specific ESR level for cancer, and it cannot be used to diagnose cancer on its own.
References:
- https://www.healthline.com/health/esr#uses
- https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/erythrocyte-sedimentation-rate-esr/#:~:text=An%20erythrocyte%20sedimentation%20rate%20(ESR)%20is%20a%20type%20of%20blood,indicate%20inflammation%20in%20the%20body.
- https://www.healthline.com/health/esr#candidates
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323057#results
- https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/your-sedimentation-rate
- https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/erythrocyte-sedimentation-rate-esr/#:~:text=What%20happens%20during%20an%20ESR,needle%20goes%20in%20or%20out
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