Blood sedimentation rate

Non-specific screening test for suspected inflammatory diseases and their progression.

The standard values for the blood sedimentation rate are between 6 and 20 mm per hour for women and between 3 and 10 mm per hour for men. For patients > 50 years of age the value is 50% higher.

SPA moderately elevated (up to 50 mm in the 1st hour):
tumor disease, bacterial infection (including TB, tuberculosis), determination errors (due to heat, too much citrate/too little blood in the tube), anemia, hyperglyceridemia, postoperative, hormonal contraception, pregnancy, premenstrual.

SPA greatly increased (50 to 100 mm in the 1st hour):
infections (mostly bacterial), advanced (metastatic) tumor diseases, leukemias, hemolytic anemias, tissue necrosis, collagenoses, vasculitides, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic liver diseases, chronic renal failure, nephrotic syndrome.

SPA massively increased ( >100 mm in the 1st hour):infections
such as sepsis, peritonitis, rheumatic fever; myeloma (except MM of Bence-Jones type), Waldenstrom's disease), giant cell arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, other vasculitides)

SPA lowering:
determination errors caused by cold and insufficient citrate in the tube. In addition: polyglobulia, polycythaemia vera, desiccosis, pathological forms of erythrocytes.

Method according to Westergreen: EDTA blood or 3.8% Na-citrate solution is mixed with venous blood in a ratio of 1:5 and filled into a vertical pipette of 200mm.