Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Flashcards
What is the purpose of ordering ESR along with other tests?
Detect and monitor the course of inflammatory conditions such as, rheumatoid arthritis, infections, or certain malignancies
What diseases does ESR help in the diagnosis of?
Temporal arteritis
Polymyalgia rheumatica
In what conditions is ESR elevated?
Plasma cell myeloma
Pregnancy
Anemia
Older age
Is ESR recommended as a screening test to detect inflammatory conditions in asymptomatic individuals? Why?
No because of its low specificity and sensitivity
What is the ESR affected by?
RBC
Plasma
Mechanical and technical factors
What is the result of the formation of rouleaux?
RBC settle more rapidly
What macromolecules can produce the formation of rouleaux?
Fibrinogen
Beta-globulins
Pathologic immunoglobulins
What are altered during a rouleaux formation?
Plasma fibrinogen
Globulins
What is the most commonly used method for ESR today?
Modified Westergren method
What is the advantage of using the modified Westergren method?
Allows the detection of highly elevated ESRs
What is the anticoagulant of choice in erythrocyte sedimentation rate?
EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)
What is the length of the Westergren tube?
200 mm
What is the size of the bore of the Westergren tube?
2.55 mm
How long should you stand the Westergren tube for and at what temperature?
60 minutes at room temperature
What was the specimen used when the Wintrobe method was first introduced?
Oxalate-anti-coagulated whole blood
What is the length of the Wintrobe tube?
115 mm
What is the current specimen of choice for Wintrobe ESR?
EDTA-treated or citrated whole blood
What is the advantage of using the wintrobe tube?
Increased sensitivity in detecting mildly elevated ESRs
How much blood is needed for the Wintrobe ESR?
Minimum of 2mL
What is the percentage of the sodium citrate in the black vacutainer?
3.2-3.8%
What is the blood to anticoagulant ration of the black vacutainer tube?
4:1
What is the calibration of the Wintrobe tube?
100 mm
What will be the result if the concentration of anticoagulant is increased?
Falsely low as a result of sphering of the RBCs which inhibits rouleaux formation
What anticoagulants can cause the red blood cells to shrink?
Sodium or potassium oxalate
Heparin
What is the result when the red blood cells shrink?
Elevated ESR
Can the significant change in the temperature alter the result of the ESR?
Yes
What will happen to the ESR result when there is a slight tilt of the pipette?
Increased result
Within what hour should the specimen be examined?
4 hours
What happens if the specimen is allowed to sit for more than 4 hours?
The rbc start to become spherical
How long can blood specimens be stored and at what temperature?
24 hours at 4C
How long should the specimen be rewarmed?
15 minutes
What is the effect of vibrations to the ESR result?
Falsely increase ESR
What hematologic disorders prevent the formation of rouleaux?
Presence of sickle cells and spherocytes
What is the effect of hematologic disorders on the ESR result?
Decrease ESR
What is the effect of severe anemia on the ESR result?
Falsely elevated
Reference range for male:
0-10 mm/hr
Reference range for female:
0-15 mm/hr
Reference range for children:
0-10 mm/hr
Drugs that can increase ESR
ProDeMetOr
Procainamide
Dextran
Methyldopa
Oral contraceptives
Drugs that decrease ESR
Aspirin
Cortisone
Quinine
Pathological causes of LOW ESR reading:
Polycythemia
Leukocytosis
Sickle cell anemia
Congestive cardiac failure
Non-pathologic causes of LOW ESR:
Albumin
Defibrination
Temp below 20C
Long standing
Short sedimentation rate
Pathological causes of HIGH ESR
Multiple myeloma
Tuberculosis
Malignancies
Severe anemia
Non-pathologic causes if HIGH ESR
Increased dilution of blood
Presence of air bubbles
Tilting of tube
Temp above 27C
Cholesterol