Clinical Significance
Sed Rate by Modified Westergren, Manual - Useful in differentiating inflammatory and neoplastic diseases and as an index of disease severity.
Preferred Specimen(s)
Whole blood: Full EDTA (lavender-top) tube
Minimum Volume
2 mL
Collection Instructions
Maintain specimen at room temperature. If multiple draw, collect lavender-top tube last.
Transport Container
EDTA (lavender-top) tube
Transport Temperature
Room temperature
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 24 hours
Refrigerated: 24 hours
Reject Criteria
Hemolysis • Samples >24 hours old • Clotted • Cold agglutinins
Methodology
Modified Westergren
Reference Range(s)
Male Female
≤50 Years ≤15 mm/h ≤20 mm/h
>50 Years ≤20 mm/h ≤30 mm/h