Normal Findings
What is the normal finding value for males?
15 mm/hr
What does ESR measure?
The rate at which RBCs settle in saline solution or plasma over specified time period.
The collected specimen cannot be sitting for longer than how many hours before the test is ran?
3 hours
True or false, fasting is indicated for this blood test.
False
What types of issues does this nonspecific test help to detect?
-acute and chronic infection
-inflammation
-advanced neoplasm
-tissue necrosis or infarction
What is the normal finding value for females?
20 mm/hr
Will ESR be decreased or increased when there is a disease present that indicates this test?
Increased
What two reproductive alterations can cause falsely elevated levels?
Pregnancy (2nd and 3rd trimester) and menstruation
What color blood tube is used to collect a specimen?
Yellow
What type of anemias are associated with increased ESR levels?
iron deficiency or B12 deficiency
What is the normal finding value for children?
10 mm/hr
True or false, ESR is a reliable indicator of the course of the disease it is indicated in and therefore can be used to monitor the effectiveness of therapy.
True
True or false, the sedimentation tube does not have to be kept vertical and tilting the tube accidentally will not distort results.
False
Briefly describe the main process of running this test in the laboratory.
Blood is aspirated into a calibrated sedimentation tube and allowed to settle (60 min). The remaining clear plasma area is measured as the sedimentation rate.
What type of anemia is associated with a decreased ESR level?
sickle cell anemia
What is the normal finding value for newborns?
0-2 mm/hr
Name 3 limitations of ESR test.
1. it is nonspecific
2. it is sometimes not elevated in the face of active disease
3. several factors can influence the results
Name 3 things (can be a drug or condition) that causes a false increase in the ESR result.
-some anemias
-diseases associated with increased proteins (eg macroglobulinemia)
-dextran (used for hypovolemia)
-methyldopa (antihypertensive)
-oral contraceptives
-vitman A
-penicillamine (Immunosuppressant)
-procainamide (antiarrhythmic)
-theophylline (bronchodilator)
Briefly describe an alternative method of running this test in the laboratory.
Measure the distance in mm that RBCs descended in normal saline solution after 60 min.
True or false, diseases with increased serum proteins are associated with increased ESR level.
True
What can ESR not be used as an indicator for when it is associated with neoplastic diseases (like breast cancer)?
Tumor burden
Name 3 things (can be a drug or condition) that causes a false decrease in the ESR result.
-polycythemia (increased RBCs in body)
-aspirin
-cortisone
-quinine (anti-parasite)
True or false, increased cells in the blood will inhibit the sedimentation of RBCs.
True