Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

Question 1

Rheology

Answer 1

Study of the physical nature of blood or plasma, the principle measurement are the ESR and viscosity

Question 2

ESR

Answer 2

performed to empirically assess the inflammatory response to tissue injury and response to treatment
Sample requirement whole blood anti-coagulated in black top ESR tube
Screening - infection, monitoring tool to assess general health status
Monitoring - chronic conditions, renal disease
Sample rejection - clots, haemolysis

Question 3

Stages

Answer 3

Lag stage - rouleaxu formation - aggregation, 10 min
Decantation stage - sedimentation - precipitation, 40 min
Packing stage - packing, 10 min

Question 4

Limitations of ESR

Answer 4

Temp, Storage time, Tilted tube , Haemocrit , Thrombi, Vibrations,

Question 5

Plasma Viscosity

Answer 5

Measures the force required to send a fixed volume of plasma along a narrow tube
Unaffected by haemocrit
Accurate for very high levels of plasma proteins, preferred for myeloid and lymphoid malignancies