ESR

Understanding the marker

ESR measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a tube. It can add information when assessing inflammation and often changes more slowly than CRP.

ESR describes red cell sedimentation over a defined time. It is nonspecific and may be affected by anaemia, age and blood proteins as well as inflammation. A normal result does not exclude inflammatory disease. Use the performing laboratory method and reference interval.

What does high ESR mean?

A high ESR can accompany inflammation, but other changes in the blood can also affect it. The blood count, CRP, symptoms and previous results help determine its meaning.

What does low ESR mean?

A low ESR means the red blood cells settled slowly in the sample. The result alone does not show overall health or exclude inflammation. Symptoms, the blood count and other findings provide the context.