When is sedimentation rate high

Put pressure on the site and then put on a bandage. How It Feels The blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm. Risks Blood test There is very little chance of a problem from having a blood sample taken from a vein.

You may get a small bruise at the puncture site. You can reduce the risk of bruising by keeping pressure on the site for several minutes after the needle is withdrawn. In rare cases, the vein may become inflamed after the blood sample is taken. This condition is called phlebitis and is usually treated with a warm compress applied several times daily. Results The sedimentation rate sed rate blood test measures how quickly red blood cells erythrocytes settle in a test tube.

Normal The normal values listed here—called a reference range—are just a guide. Results are usually available right away. Cancer, such as lymphoma or multiple myeloma. Chronic kidney disease. Infection, such as pneumonia , pelvic inflammatory disease , or appendicitis. Inflammation of joints such as polymyalgia rheumatica and blood vessels such as giant cell arteritis. Inflammation of the thyroid gland Graves' disease.

Kidney, bone, joint, skin, or heart valve infections. Pregnancy and pre-eclampsia toxemia of pregnancy. Viral infections. Low values Low values may be caused by: High blood sugar levels.

During and after this hour, the laboratory professional processing this test will assess how far the RBCs sink into the tube, how quickly they sink, and how many sink. Inflammation can cause abnormal proteins to appear in your blood. These proteins cause your RBCs to clump together. This makes them fall more quickly. CRP measures inflammation as well, but it can also help predict your risk for coronary artery disease CAD and other cardiovascular diseases. You might also feel throbbing at the puncture site after the test.

In this method, your blood is drawn into a Westergren-Katz tube until the blood level reaches millimeters mm. The distance between the top of the blood mixture and the top of the sedimentation of RBCs is measured. The Wintrobe method is similar to the Westergren method, except the tube used is mm long and thinner. The following are considered normal ESR test results :. It just identifies any potential inflammation in your body and indicates a need to look further.

An abnormally low value would be near 0. There are multiple causes of a high ESR test result. Some common conditions associated with a higher rate include:. An abnormally high ESR can indicate the presence of cancerous tumors, especially if no inflammation is found.

ESR test results that are higher than normal are also associated with autoimmune diseases, including:. Depending on your results, your doctor may want to order additional tests, including a second ESR test to verify the results of the first one.

So, genes decreasing fibrinogen production may theoretically reduce ESR levels:. In inflammation, the liver is producing a protein called C-reactive protein CRP. The CRP blood test checks whether you have inflammation or infection. CRP is better for checking and tracking the progress of acute inflammations, and infections [ 25 , , ]. ESR is better for checking and tracking the progress of chronic inflammations, and infections [ 25 , , ].

While there are many studies examining ESR, almost all of them are population-based, which means they can associate high or low ESR values with certain conditions but not establish them as their cause. Additional limitations of some of these studies include being based on older data or only conducted with men.

It is most commonly measured using the Westergren method, the gold standard in assessing ESR. Micro ESR is another method that can be used in newborns that requires only a small amount of blood. Your doctor may order an ESR test if you show signs or symptoms of infection or inflammation, such as fever, headache, and pain. They may also order this test to screen for specific diseases or to monitor chronic autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Joe Cohen won the genetic lottery of bad genes. As a kid, he suffered from inflammation, brain fog, fatigue, digestive problems, anxiety, depression, and other issues that were poorly understood in both conventional and alternative medicine. All of our content is written by scientists and people with a strong science background. ESR is most commonly measured using the Westergren method. Micro ESR can be used in newborns and it requires only a small amount of blood.

Certain medicines and supplements can also affect your results. These include oral contraceptives , aspirin, cortisone, and vitamin A. Be sure to tell your health care provider about any drugs or supplements you are taking. Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results. An ESR does not specifically diagnose any diseases, but it can provide information about whether or not there is inflammation in your body.

If your ESR results are abnormal, your health care provider will need more information and will likely order more lab tests before making a diagnosis. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice.

Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. What is an erythrocyte sedimentation rate ESR? What is it used for?