What is ESR
In this post we will know what esr is and what are its applications.
Theory:
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is the rate at which the erythrocytes settle down.It is a tool to find various problems in blood. Normally, the red blood cells (RBCs) remain suspended uniformly in circulation. This is called suspension stability of RBCs. If blood is mixed with an anticoagulant and allowed to stand on a vertical tube, the red cells settle down due to gravity with a supernatant layer of clear plasma.
ESR is also called sedimentation rate, sed rate or Biernacki reaction. It was first demonstrated by Edmund Biernacki in 1897. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is an easy, inexpensive and non-specific test, which helps in diagnosis as well as prognosis. It is non-specific because it cannot indicate the exact location or cause of disease. But, it helps to confirm the diagnosis. Prognosis means monitoring the course of disease and response of the patient to therapy. Determination of ESR is especially helpful in assessing the progress of patients treated for certain chronic inflammatory disorders such as:
1. Pulmonary tuberculosis.
2. Rheumatoid arthritis.
3. Polymyalgia rheumatica (inflammatory disease characterized by pain in shoulder and hip)
4.Temporal arteritis (inflammation of arteries of head).
Normal Ranges:
By Westergren Method.
In males : 3 to 7 mm in 1 hour.
In females : 5 to 9 mm in 1 hour.
Infants : 0 to 2 mm in 1 hour.
Controlling factors:
1. Age: ESR is less in children and infants because of more number of RBCs.
2. Sex: It is more in females than in males because of less number of RBCs.
3. Menstruation: The ESR increases during menstruation because of loss of blood and RBCs.
4. Pregnancy: From 3rd month to parturition, ESR increases up to 35 mm in 1 hour because of hemodilution.
ESR increases in diseases such as the following conditions:
1. Tuberculosis
2. All types of anemia except sickle cell anemia
3. Malignant tumors
4. Rheumatoid arthritis
5. . Liver diseases.
ESR decreases in the following conditions:
1. Allergic conditions
2. Sickle cell anemia.
3. Polycythemia
4. Severe leukocytosis[
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Requirements:
Subject, cotton Alcohol, syringe, test tube turniquit, westergreen tube, ESR stand.
Procedure:
1. Wash your hands properly with soap and allow it to dry.
2. Tourniquet your arm to visible your vein.
3. Select area for vein puncture and sterilize that area with alcohol.
4. Collect 5 CC blood through syringe and add this blood to test tube that already contain anticoagulant.
5. Suck blood through westergreen tube up to zero mark.
6. Fix the westergreen tube in ESR stand and wait for 1 hr.
Observation:
Blood is taken from the subject vein in a syringe and added to a tube having anticoagulant.The blood is sucked by the subject through westergreen tube upto zero mark and fixed in westergreen tube.After one hour its was found 4mm/hr.
Precautions:
1. Disposable syringe should be used.
2. Carefully take blood at 15 degree angle to avoid double puncturing.
3. Clean the laboratory after performing practical procedure.
