Sed rate erythrocyte sedimentation rate - Mayo Clinic
COVID-19 Advice updates and vaccine options
Find out about COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccines, and Mayo Clinic patient and visitor updates. Skip to site navigation Skip to Content This content does not have an English version.This content does not have an Arabic version. Search Request an Appointment Find a Doctor Find a Job Give Now Log in to Patient Account English Español العربية 简体中文 Twitter Facebook Pinterest YouTube Menu Request an Appointment Patient Care & Health Information Tests & Procedures Sed rate erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Print Overview
Sed rate, or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), is a blood test that can reveal inflammatory activity in your body. A sed rate test isn't a stand-alone diagnostic tool, but it can help your doctor diagnose or monitor the progress of an inflammatory disease. When your blood is placed in a tall, thin tube, red blood cells (erythrocytes) gradually settle to the bottom. Inflammation can cause the cells to clump. Because these clumps are denser than individual cells, they settle to the bottom more quickly. The sed rate test measures the distance red blood cells fall in a test tube in one hour. The farther the red blood cells have descended, the greater the inflammatory response of your immune system. Products & Services
Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th EditionNewsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter - Digital EditionShow more products from Mayo Clinic Why it s done
Sed rate tests might be useful when evaluating unexplained fever, some types of arthritis and symptoms that affect your muscles. Also, they can help confirm a diagnosis of certain conditions, including: Giant cell arteritis Polymyalgia rheumatica Rheumatoid arthritis A sed rate test can also help determine the severity of your inflammatory response and monitor the effect of treatment. Because a sed rate test can't pinpoint the problem that's causing inflammation in your body, it's usually accompanied by other blood tests, such as the C-reactive protein (CRP) test. More Information
Adult Still's diseaseEssential thrombocythemiaFibromyalgiaGranulomatosis with polyangiitisJuvenile idiopathic arthritisLupusOptic neuritisPolymyalgia rheumaticaTakayasu's arteritisShow more related information Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Subscribe! Thank you for subscribing
You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription
Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry How you prepare
The sed rate is a simple blood test. You don't need to fast before the test. What you can expect
A phlebotomist, nurse or medical assistant will use a needle to draw blood from a vein, most likely a vein in your arm. After the test, the site on your arm might be tender for a few hours, but you'll be able to resume most normal activities. Results
Results from your sed rate test will be reported in the distance in millimeters (mm) that red blood cells have descended in one hour (hr). The normal range is 0 to 22 mm/hr for men and 0 to 29 mm/hr for women. The upper threshold for a normal sed rate value may vary somewhat from one medical practice to another. Your sed rate is one piece of information to help your doctor check your health. Talk to your doctor about what your sed rate results mean in light of your symptoms and the results of your other diagnostic tests. Accuracy of test results
A number of conditions can affect the properties of blood, thereby affecting how quickly red blood cells sink in a sample of blood. So information about inflammatory disease - what your doctor intends to learn from the sed rate test - can be obscured by the influence of other conditions. These complicating factors include: Advanced age Anemia Pregnancy Kidney problems Thyroid disease Some cancers, such as multiple myeloma Infection Your doctor will take into account possible complicating factors when interpreting the results of your sed rate test. By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Aug. 10, 2021 Print Share on: FacebookTwitter Show references Shmerling RH. Evaluation of the adult with polyarticular pain. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed June 19, 2019. Goldman L, et al., eds. Laboratory testing in rheumatic diseases. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinickey.com. Accessed June 19, 2019. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Lab Tests Online. https://labtestsonline.org/tests/erythrocyte-sedimentation-rate-esr. Accessed June 19, 2019. Related
Adult Still's disease Essential thrombocythemia Fibromyalgia Granulomatosis with polyangiitis Juvenile idiopathic arthritis Lupus Optic neuritis Polymyalgia rheumatica Rheumatoid arthritis Takayasu's arteritis Show more related content Products & Services
Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter - Digital Edition Show more products and services from Mayo Clinic Sed rate erythrocyte sedimentation rate
About Advertisement
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Advertising & Sponsorship Policy Opportunities Ad Choices Mayo Clinic Press
Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic PressMayo Clinic on IncontinenceNEW – The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic PressNEW – The Essential Diabetes BookNEW – Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance - Mayo Clinic PressNEW – Mayo Clinic on Hearing and BalanceFREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic PressFREE Mayo Clinic Diet AssessmentMayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic PressMayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book PRC-20197644 Patient Care & Health Information Tests & Procedures Sed rate erythrocyte sedimentation rate