ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate or ESR is a specific blood test that measures the degree of inflammation in the body. The ESR test specifically measures how quickly the red blood cells settle at the bottom of a test tube containing the blood samples. When a blood sample is placed in a test tube, the red blood cells settle down at a slow rate, leaving clear plasma behind. A faster than normal rate settlement of erythrocytes indicates inflammation in the body. The RBC settles at a faster rate due to the presence of an increased level of proteins like C- protein, and fibrinogen. This leads to inflammation in the body.

Inflammation is a type of body’s immune response that can be acute (developing quickly after any trauma or injury) or chronic with conditions such as cancer and autoimmune diseases. The ESR is a non-specific test that may be raised in different conditions. It gives general information about the presence or absence of any possible inflammatory condition.

A health care provider or a doctor may order an ESR if a person may have symptoms of any inflammatory disease. These includes:

• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Weight loss
• Shoulder or neck pain
• Joint stiffness
• Anaemia