Sedimentation Rate

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate

What To Think About

• Even though some problems, such as giant cell arteritis, almost always cause a high sedimentation rate (sed rate), the test cannot be used by itself to identify a specific disease. Results of a sed rate test are considered along with your symptoms, other test results, and medical information.
• Some diseases that cause inflammation do not increase the sed rate, so a normal sed rate does not always rule out a disease.
• Some doctors use the C-reactive protein (CRP) blood test instead of the sed rate test to help identify inflammatory conditions. For more information, see the medical test C-Reactive Protein (CRP).

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Author:	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH	Last Updated: June 12, 2008
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology
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