What Is ESR in a Blood Test?
ESR stands for Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (sed rate). Measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a tube in one hour. Inflammation causes faster settling.
Normal Ranges
- Men under 50: below 15 mm/hr
- Men over 50: below 20 mm/hr
- Women under 50: below 20 mm/hr
- Women over 50: below 30 mm/hr
- Increases with age: age/2 for men, (age+10)/2 for women
Elevated ESR Causes
- Infection — bacterial, TB, osteomyelitis
- Autoimmune disease — RA, lupus, polymyalgia rheumatica, temporal arteritis
- Kidney disease
- Pregnancy
- Anemia
- Cancer — lymphoma, multiple myeloma
- Thyroid disease
ESR vs CRP
- CRP rises within hours; ESR takes days
- CRP normalizes quickly; ESR stays elevated for weeks
- ESR increases with age; CRP is less age-dependent
- Both are non-specific — indicate inflammation but not its cause
Source: NLM MedlinePlus, American Association for Clinical Chemistry.
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