The sed rate blood test is a common test that helps to measure the sedimentation rate of red blood cells in the blood. This provides a measurement of how much inflammation exists within the body. Sometimes it may be referred to as an erythrocyte sed test by a medical provider, but this is just the name given to the red blood cells.
Outside of monitoring inflammation, the sed rate blood test is also used to monitor the progress of diseases that are being treated. This includes rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, vasculitis, and abscesses. Several forms of arthritis may also be able to be monitored through this test in certain patient groups.
To measure the sedimentation rate, the blood is placed in a thin, tall tube so that the red blood cells settle to the bottom. Inflammation causes the cells to clump, so higher levels of inflammation cause faster clumping and sedimentation rates.
Why Is the Sed Rate Blood Test Done?
Although there are more specific blood tests to measure inflammation today, the sed rate blood test is still done when there is a rheumatic condition that needs to be discovered. Because this test is non-specific, a medical provider will often order other blood tests at the same time as the sed rate blood test so that a potential diagnosis can be achieved.
When preparing for this test, you may be asked to stop taking anti-inflammation medication for a specific period of time. No fasting is required for this test.
What Do the Sed Rate Blood Test Results Mean?
It takes 60 minutes for the sed rate blood test to be completed. The results will be reported in the actual distance that the red blood cells have descended to the bottom of the tube over that 60 minute period. Anything that is below 29mm for women or 22mm for men is considered to be a normal result. Keep in mind that any dropping of the red blood cells indicates inflammation. Even though the results may be normal, there still may be an issue that needs to be addressed.
Anything above these two figures is considered a positive sed rate blood test result. Follow-up testing will be required to pin down the cause of inflammation that exists.
Certain health conditions and lifestyle choices may affect how quickly red blood cells begin to settle. Women who are pregnant may have inconclusive results with this particular test. People who have anemia or high cholesterol may also have results that are inconclusive. Some kidney problems are also known to interfere with the sed rate blood test. A medical provider may be able to take these individual concerns into account to interpret the results.
Very high sed rate results occur when people have tumors that make a large amount of immunoglobulin or have multiple myeloma. This happens even if there isn’t inflammation present in the body. If results are severely high, then follow-up testing to confirm one of these health issues.
Moderately high levels are often seen because of the normal aging process.
Although low rates are generally considered a normal result, a low sed rate can also happen when there are high red blood cell counts, high white blood cell counts, and certain abnormalities associated with blood proteins. Low sed rates are often seen with individuals who have sickle cell anemia.
Here’s What You Should Know
Some medical providers have a rapid sed rate test that can have test results ready in less than 5 minutes. This may be useful for diagnosis certain conditions in children, such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or Kawasaki disease.
Some medications and supplements are also known to interfere with test results. Oral contraceptives, dextran, and some antibiotics may increase sed rate results, while aspirin and cortisone are known to lower test results.
The sed rate blood test is not a specific test, so it isn’t suitable for everyone. It is most useful for a known inflammatory condition that needs to be monitored. This means people who are generally healthy will not have any useful information created from the sed rate test results unless there is a severely high result, which is fairly uncommon.
The sed rate blood test has fallen out of favor for some of the health conditions it was previously used to detect thanks to the evolution of blood tests over the years. This doesn’t mean the information it can provide isn’t beneficial. Specific health concerns benefit from this test, so speak to your medical provider about the pros and cons of the sed rate test to see if it could be right for you.
The sed rate blood test is a common test that helps to measure the sedimentation rate of red blood cells in the blood. This provides a measurement of how much inflammation exists within the body. Sometimes it may be referred to as an erythrocyte sed test by a medical provider, but this is just the name given to the red blood cells.
Outside of monitoring inflammation, the sed rate blood test is also used to monitor the progress of diseases that are being treated. This includes rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, vasculitis, and abscesses. Several forms of arthritis may also be able to be monitored through this test in certain patient groups.
To measure the sedimentation rate, the blood is placed in a thin, tall tube so that the red blood cells settle to the bottom. Inflammation causes the cells to clump, so higher levels of inflammation cause faster clumping and sedimentation rates.
Why Is the Sed Rate Blood Test Done?
Although there are more specific blood tests to measure inflammation today, the sed rate blood test is still done when there is a rheumatic condition that needs to be discovered. Because this test is non-specific, a medical provider will often order other blood tests at the same time as the sed rate blood test so that a potential diagnosis can be achieved.
When preparing for this test, you may be asked to stop taking anti-inflammation medication for a specific period of time. No fasting is required for this test.
What Do the Sed Rate Blood Test Results Mean?
It takes 60 minutes for the sed rate blood test to be completed. The results will be reported in the actual distance that the red blood cells have descended to the bottom of the tube over that 60 minute period. Anything that is below 29mm for women or 22mm for men is considered to be a normal result. Keep in mind that any dropping of the red blood cells indicates inflammation. Even though the results may be normal, there still may be an issue that needs to be addressed.
Anything above these two figures is considered a positive sed rate blood test result. Follow-up testing will be required to pin down the cause of inflammation that exists.
Certain health conditions and lifestyle choices may affect how quickly red blood cells begin to settle. Women who are pregnant may have inconclusive results with this particular test. People who have anemia or high cholesterol may also have results that are inconclusive. Some kidney problems are also known to interfere with the sed rate blood test. A medical provider may be able to take these individual concerns into account to interpret the results.
Very high sed rate results occur when people have tumors that make a large amount of immunoglobulin or have multiple myeloma. This happens even if there isn’t inflammation present in the body. If results are severely high, then follow-up testing to confirm one of these health issues.
Moderately high levels are often seen because of the normal aging process.
Although low rates are generally considered a normal result, a low sed rate can also happen when there are high red blood cell counts, high white blood cell counts, and certain abnormalities associated with blood proteins. Low sed rates are often seen with individuals who have sickle cell anemia.
Here’s What You Should Know
Some medical providers have a rapid sed rate test that can have test results ready in less than 5 minutes. This may be useful for diagnosis certain conditions in children, such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or Kawasaki disease.
Some medications and supplements are also known to interfere with test results. Oral contraceptives, dextran, and some antibiotics may increase sed rate results, while aspirin and cortisone are known to lower test results.
The sed rate blood test is not a specific test, so it isn’t suitable for everyone. It is most useful for a known inflammatory condition that needs to be monitored. This means people who are generally healthy will not have any useful information created from the sed rate test results unless there is a severely high result, which is fairly uncommon.
The sed rate blood test has fallen out of favor for some of the health conditions it was previously used to detect thanks to the evolution of blood tests over the years. This doesn’t mean the information it can provide isn’t beneficial. Specific health concerns benefit from this test, so speak to your medical provider about the pros and cons of the sed rate test to see if it could be right for you.