Table of contents:
- What is the sedimentation rate?
- Who needs to do an sedimentation rate test?
- How is this test procedure done?
- How do I read the results of the sedimentation rate test?
- What can affect the results of an erythrocyte sedimentation rate?
- Are there any other tests your doctor might order?
There are many medical tests that you can undergo to find out your overall health condition. One of them is an sedimentation rate test. What is the specific function? Find out all the information about the sedimentation rate test below.
What is the sedimentation rate?
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (abbreviated ESR) or better known as the sedimentation rate test or abbreviated as LED is a test that aims to measure how fast your erythrocytes (red blood cells) clot.
The faster the red blood cells clot, it means that your body is in trouble because of inflammation.
Who needs to do an sedimentation rate test?
Usually this blood test is done by a doctor to confirm a diagnosis of diseases that can cause inflammation in the body, such as:
- Infection
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lupus
- Autoimmune disease
- Cancer
LED examination can also be done to see the progress of inflammatory disease that is being experienced by the patient.
Your doctor will also advise you to do this test if you suspect symptoms of inflammation, such as:
- Fever
- Joint or bone pain
- Chronic headaches
- Decreased appetite
- Rapid and drastic weight loss
Likewise, if you experience indigestion, such as diarrhea, bloody stools, or severe stomach pain that doesn't go away in a few days.
However, it should be understood that this test is unable to pinpoint the exact location of the inflammation. The LED test only tells the doctor that there is indeed inflammation going on in the body.
How is this test procedure done?
The process for checking the LED is actually the same as for any blood test. You can do this test at a clinic, health center, hospital, or health laboratory.
Before medical personnel take a blood sample, make sure you tell all medications, including vitamins, herbs, and supplements that are currently being taken. Some medications can affect test results. In addition, notify medical personnel if you are pregnant or have your period.
In general, the stages of the LED inspection process are:
- The medical staff will clean your arm with an antiseptic solution.
- Then the medic will insert a sterile needle into the vein on the inner elbow and insert a tube to fill it with your blood. You may feel a slight sting of pain when the health worker takes the blood sample.
- After drawing enough blood, the health worker will remove the needle and cover the injection site with a bandage to stop the bleeding.
- The medical staff will immediately send your blood sample to a laboratory for analysis.
- In the laboratory the medical team will place the blood sample in a test tube. This is done to see how quickly your red blood cells settle to the bottom of the tube in a span of about 1 hour.
Some people may experience minor pain and bruising at the injection site as a side effect after having a blood test. Others may feel a throbbing sensation at the injection site and a light headache. These side effects are generally harmless and may improve after a few days.
How do I read the results of the sedimentation rate test?
The sedimentation rate is measured in millimeters per hour (mm / hour). Based on age, the normal values for the sedimentation rate are:
- Children: 0-10 mm / hour
- Men under 50 years: 0-15 mm / hour
- Men over 50 years: 0-20 mm / hour
- Women under 50 years: 0-20 mm / hour
- Women over 50 years: 0-30 mm / hour
Red blood cells that tend to settle quickly indicates a high sedimentation rate. This means that you have a condition or disease that causes inflammation or cell damage.
However, basically the test results will vary depending on your age, gender, medical history, the method used for the test, and so on.
A high sedimentation rate test does not always indicate that you have a serious medical problem. However, a high blood sedimentation rate test can be a reference for doctors to perform other tests to confirm the diagnosis.
What can affect the results of an erythrocyte sedimentation rate?
The condition of the patient's body when carrying out the examination can affect the accuracy of the results of this examination, for example, women who are pregnant or menstruating.
Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, several other special conditions that might affect the accuracy of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate are:
- Elderly
- Anemia
- Thyroid disease
- Kidney illness
- Pregnancy
- Cancer, such as multiple myeloma
- Infection
- Certain medications, including birth control pills, aspirin, cortisone, and vitamin A.
So if you experience one or more of the above conditions, be sure to tell your doctor before undergoing the examination. This is done so that the results of the examination can be accurate.
Are there any other tests your doctor might order?
It is important to know that an sedimentation rate test can only tell that you have inflammation somewhere in the body. The LED examination cannot show exactly where the inflammation is occurring and what is causing it.
Your doctor will usually advise you to do other tests, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) along with an LED examination to further confirm the diagnosis. Apart from helping measure the level of inflammation in your body, CRP can also help predict your risk of developing coronary heart disease and other heart diseases.
Please consult further with the doctor to ask for a more complete explanation regarding the results of the LED examination and other tests that you have done. Make sure you understand what the test results mean and how they can affect the treatment you are currently taking.
