Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog
ERYTHROCYTE SEDIMENTATION RATE (ESR)
Geisinger Epic Procedure Code: LAB2234 Geisinger Epic ID: 7219Whole blood
One (1) lavender-top (K2 EDTA) tube properly filled. Minimum sample volume is 500µL whole blood.
If STAT measurement of inflammation needed, perform CRP (C-reactive protein).
Do not centrifuge. Specimen must be sent as whole blood.
Room temperature (GMC) or refrigerated (non-GMC).
Room temperature: 6 hours. Refrigerated: 24 hours.
Clotted, frozen, centrifuged, hemolyzed and improperly filled. Specimens received beyond stability.
| Age | Male | Female | Unknown |
| <15 years | <13mm/hr | <13mm/hr | <13 mm/hour |
| 15-50 years | <15mm/hr | <20mm/hr | <15 mm/hour |
| >50 years | <20mm/hr | <30mm/hr | <15 mm/hour |
Interferences:
- Sickle cell anemia and hemolysis disrupts the red cell sedimentation falsely lowers ESR results.
- Multiple myeloma causes red cell sedimentation from rouleaux formation and not inflammation, falsely increasing results.
- Extreme lipemia changes the viscosity of the sample, interfering with the measurement and may cause error message.
Turnaround Times
| Routine | 4 Hours |
| STAT | 1 Hour |
| Extended TAT | 3 Days |
| Timed | 60 Minutes |
| Pending Discharge | 45 Minutes |
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.
Sed Rate, ESR, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Sed rate by modified Westergren
Nonspecific marker of inflammation, especially in chronic diseases. ESR tends to be elevated in monoclonal blood protein disorders (multiple myeloma), severe polyclonal hyperglobulinemia due to inflammatory disease, and hyperfibrinogenemia.