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ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) Test

⚠️ Update approaching🔬 Evidence: LimitedInternal Medicine
Diğer adları: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ESR, Sedimentation rate
⚠️

Discuss your test results with your doctor. This page is for informational purposes only and does not provide a diagnosis.

⚡ Key Facts

• Measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a tube over one hour • A non-specific marker of inflammation — rises in many conditions • Normal values increase with age • Less specific than CRP but useful for monitoring chronic conditions

🧪 What Does This Test Measure?

The ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a tube over one hour, serving as a non-specific marker of inflammation.

📋 Why Is It Ordered?

Ordered for inflammation evaluation, autoimmune disease diagnosis and monitoring, and investigation of unexplained symptoms.

🔧 Preparation

No special preparation is generally required. Fasting is not mandatory.

📊 Reference Ranges

Approximate reference ranges (Westergren method): Men: 0–15 mm/hr (under 50), 0–20 mm/hr (over 50) Women: 0–20 mm/hr (under 50), 0–30 mm/hr (over 50) ⚠️ Ranges vary with age and laboratory.

⬆️ High Values

Elevated ESR may be associated with infection, autoimmune diseases, malignancy, and chronic inflammatory conditions.

⬇️ Low Values

Low ESR is generally not clinically significant. Polycythemia, sickle cell disease, and certain protein disorders may lower ESR.

⚙️ What Can Affect Results?

Age, sex, anemia, pregnancy, medications, obesity, and protein levels may affect ESR results.

🔬 Evidence Summary

Limited evidence: 4 reviews and 1 observational study.

📚 Most Important Studies on This Topic

1

Acute-phase proteins and other systemic responses to inflammation

Review· New England Journal of Medicine · 1999 · PMID: 9971870

2

Clinical utility of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate

Review· American Family Physician · 1999 · PMID: 10524488

3

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and C-reactive Protein Measurements and Their Relevance in Clinical Medicine

Review· Wisconsin Medical Journal · 2016 · PMID: 29094869

✅ Key Takeaways

💡

What you learned: ESR is a non-specific inflammation marker. It is most useful for monitoring known inflammatory conditions rather than diagnosis.

⛔

An ESR result alone cannot diagnose any specific condition. Clinical context and additional tests are needed.

🔬 Sources Used on This Page

5 sources · Most recent publication: 2016
📖
Review
Comprehensive topic evaluation
4
sources
👁
Observational
Observational and cohort studies
1
source
Overall assessment: Evidence level for this topic is limited. This page is supported by 4 reviews, 1 observational study.

📝 Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Be prepared for your appointment. Add questions to your list.

📋 References

[PMID: 29094869] Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and C-reactive Protein Measurements and Their Relevance in Clinical Medicine. Wisconsin Medical Journal, 2016.
[PMID: 9971870] Acute-phase proteins and other systemic responses to inflammation. New England Journal of Medicine, 1999.
[PMID: 10524488] Clinical utility of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. American Family Physician, 1999.
[PMID: 9590999] The erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Still a helpful test when used judiciously. Postgraduate Medicine, 1998.
[PMID: 3729639] Clinical significance of extreme elevation of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Archives of Internal Medicine, 1986.
Last reviewed: 4/2/2026
Next review: 4/2/2027

⚖️ Comparisons

CRP vs ESR→

🔗 Related Topics

🧪 CRP (C-reaktif protein — akut enflamasyon belirteci)🧪 Hemogram (tam kan sayımı)🧪 Ferritin (demir depoları ve akut faz proteini)🧪 Kreatinin (böbrek fonksiyonu)🧪 ALT ve AST (karaciğer enzimleri)
⚖️ This page does not replace medical advice. Make treatment decisions with your doctor.
Content is based on scientific studies indexed in PubMed and current clinical guidelines.