ESR Test - Normal Range Purpose, Procedure, Causes, & More

Erythrocyte sedimentation test or the ESR blood test is generally recommended by a doctor when they suspect some inflammation in your body. The ESR blood test means the speed at which the red blood cells sink to the bottom of a test tube. The ESR in the blood is measured in mm/hr. A higher sedimentation rate is an indication of high inflammation in your body. In this article, let us learn about the normal values of erythrocyte sedimentation rate according to your age and gender and the causes of abnormal levels of ESR.

What is the normal range of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)?

The ESR medical abbreviation for erythrocyte sedimentation rate depends on various factors like medicines you use, old age, menstrual cycle, and pregnancy. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is defined as the distance between the plasma (clear liquid collected at the top) and the red blood cells in millimetres observed after 1hour. The ESR blood test normal range as per your age and gender are tabulated below:

S.No.	Gender	Age	Normal ESR level
1.	Males	Less than 50 years	0 - 15 mm/hour
		Greater than 50 years	0 - 20 mm/hour
2.	Females	Less than 50 years	0 - 20 mm/hour
		Greater than 50 years	0 - 30 mm/hour

What are the causes of abnormal ESR levels?

The ESR levels are not indicative of any particular disease, but it only tells about whether or not there is the presence of inflammation in your body. The values for an ESR test are not very strict as the ultimate low levels of ESR can vary in different situations. The abnormal levels of ESR may indicate a mild symptom or a severe disease. So, you must not be concerned a lot about the abnormal values of your ESR test before concerning them with your doctor. 

Causes of high ESR levels

The high levels of ESR can indicate the development of cancerous tissues, especially in cases where no inflammation in the body is found. The ESR levels may exceed the optimum values in case of some commonly associated medical conditions like:

• Ischemia, that is, lack of blood in a tissue
• Tissue injury
• Systemic and localised infectious or inflammatory diseases that can be local or widespread infection
• Trauma
• Increased age
• Anaemia
• Pregnancy
• Types of cancer including multiple myeloma and lymphoma
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Heart disease
• Vasculitis, that is, blood vessel inflammation
• Blood or vascular diseases
• Thyroid disease
• Obesity 
• Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia, polymyalgia rheumatic, temporal arteritis, allergic or necrotizing vasculitis, and hyperfibrinogenemia
• Infections like rheumatic fever, systemic infection, skin infection, tuberculosis, bone infection, and heart infections like pericarditis, myocarditis, and endocarditis.

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Causes of Low ESR levels

The ESR levels in your test report may be low because of the following reasons:

• Hypofibrinogenemia, that is, the presence of little fibrinogen in the blood
• Congestive heart failure (CHF)
• Low plasma protein caused due to the liver or kidney disease
• Polycythemia vera, that is, the production of excessive RBCs caused due to a bone marrow disorder
• Leukocytosis, that is, increased levels of white blood cells
• Sickle cell anaemia

Why do I need an ESR test?

Following are the reasons why you may need an ESR test include: 

• Unexplained fever
• Headaches
• Joint stiffness
• Anemia
• Neck or shoulder pain
• Unexplained fever
• Loss of appetite 

What is the purpose of the ESR test? 

The ESR test helps diagnose conditions that cause inflammation and monitor existing health conditions, including arthritis, vasculitis, infection, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). 

• Diagnosis: Many health conditions can lead to an ESR and may bring abnormal results. A doctor may also suggest additional tests to detect infections, blood disorders, kidney problems, polymyalgia rheumatica, rheumatoid arthritis, and giant cell arteritis. 
• Monitoring: It monitors the effectiveness of treatments for certain disorders as inflammatory health conditions change over time. 

Meet your healthcare provider about the specific purpose of the ESR test in your situation and get accurate advice. 

Also read: https://redcliffelabs.com/myhealth/womens-health/reason-why-esr-is-high-in-females/

What is the procedure for the ESR test?

The procedure of the ESR test is quick, simple, and straightforward. It takes less than five minutes to complete. An ESR test is a blood test, so a small amount of blood will be drawn from a vein in your arm.

He will transfer the blood into a vial, label it, and send it to the laboratory for analysis. 

As the needle goes in or out, it may cause slight pain, nausea, lightheadedness, or dizziness. However, these symptoms will go away quickly. 

How can you prepare for the ESR test? 

You don’t need any special preparation for an ESR test except to remember a few instructions. This is to ensure the accuracy of your lab test results. 

• Your doctor may suggest fasting (not to eat or drink) for several hours before the test. 
• He may suggest not to consume supplements or over-the-counter medicines, as some drugs interfere with the test results. 
• It is better to refrain from engaging in any strenuous exercise before the test. This may lead to hormonal fluctuations and create discomfort during the ESR test. 

Note: Ask your healthcare provider if there are any special instructions to follow. 

What are the risks associated with an ESR test?

There are minimal risks associated with an ESR test, such as bruising, bleeding, or tenderness. In rare cases, the symptoms become severe, like swelling on the arm, continuous pain, or irritation on the injected site. Meet your healthcare provider immediately for an accurate diagnosis and treatment initiation.

Also Read: https://redcliffelabs.com/myhealth/blood-test/esr-test-meaning-normal-range-in-female-and-male-and-more/

What other tests might you have along with the ESR test?

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test can’t detect a specific disease, so a doctor may recommend other tests at the same time. Hence, a C-reactive protein (CRP) test is suggested, along with an ESR test, to help detect inflammation in the body, which can be caused by infection, injury, or chronic disease. 

Your doctor may also suggest a complete blood count test, a comprehensive metabolic panel, and arthritis tests to evaluate your overall health. Let’s discover them in detail. 

• Complete blood count test: A complete blood count (CBC) test determines your overall health and checks for several conditions, such as anemia, infection, arthritis, and leukemia. 
• A comprehensive metabolic panel is a routine test that helps a healthcare professional assess the body's fluid balance, electrolyte levels, and whether the kidneys and liver are working properly. 
• Arthritis tests: An ESR test can be used to diagnose arthritis as it may cause inflammation in the body. 

High CRP levels may indicate a serious health condition that causes inflammation. 

What factors might affect ESR test results?

Factors that might affect ESR test results, include: 

• Pregnancy 
• Old age
• Obesity 
• Medicines
• Menstruation period
• Gender
• Anemia
• Lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking, and metabolic abnormalities. 
• Thyroid disease
• Injury 
• Infection

Takeaway

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a blood test that helps doctors predict inflammation in your body. ESR test is generally done with other tests to rule out the possibility of most inflammatory conditions. Various acute and chronic conditions can affect the ESR levels in your body. These conditions may range from autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases to infections and cancer. Now that you know the optimum levels of ESR that should be present in your blood and the causes of abnormally high or low levels of ESR, you will be able to assess your blood report.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What does it mean if your ESR is high?

High ESR levels indicate that there is the presence of inflammation in your body.

• What infections cause high ESR?

Infections like rheumatic fever, systemic infection, skin infection, tuberculosis, bone infection, and heart infections like pericarditis, myocarditis, and endocarditis can lead to high ESR levels.

• What is a normal ESR level?

The normal ESR level ranges from 0-30 mm/h in females and 0-20 mm/hr in males.

• What do the abnormal ESR test results mean?

The abnormal ESR test results may indicate anemia, certain cancers such as lymphoma or multiple myeloma, kidney disease, pregnancy, or thyroid disease. 

• What does the ESR test measure?

The erythrocyte sedimentation test, or ESR test, helps measure how fast red blood cells (RBCs) fall to the bottom of a test tube. These cells are called erythrocytes, and their fall is called sedimentation. 

• Book an ESR blood test from Redcliffe Labs for INR 117 only! 

Download the Redcliffe mobile app to book the ESR blood test online or call directly. The ESR test price at Redcliffe Labs is INR 117 only. You can also avail of home sample collection convenience and the most accurate reports, typically within 12 hours. 

• Below are instructions on how to book an ESR blood test online from Redcliffe Labs! 

1. Go to the official Redcliffe Labs website: https://redcliffelabs.com/. 
2. Browse or search for the specific test you need. 
3. Add the test to the cart. 
4. Complete the payment process online.
5. You will receive confirmation through SMS and WhatsApp.