Asmaa A/LinkedIn
Oct 25, 2025, 07:41
Asmaa A: Common Sources of Error in ESR Testing
Asmaa A, DHA Medical Laboratory Technologis at Al-Ahrar International Hospital, shared a post on LinkedIn:
”ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate): Sources of Errors — Increased and Decreased
Even a simple test like ESR can give misleading results if technical or sample-related factors aren’t right.
Here’s what can falsely decrease or increase ESR.
Falsely Decreased ESR
- Abnormal RBC morphology (sickle cells, spherocytes, anisocytosis) → prevents rouleaux formation.
- Polycythemia / Increased blood viscosity → RBCs settle slower.
- Clotted or partially clotted sample → false low ESR.
- Underfilled tube (excess anticoagulant ratio) → alters plasma/RBC balance, lowering ESR.
- Old blood sample → shape changes (spherocytes) reduce sedimentation.
- Low storage temperature → slows down the sedimentation rate.
- Vibration or shaking of the tube (e.g. near centrifuge) → may falsely decrease ESR by disturbing RBC settling.
Falsely Increased ESR
- Hemolyzed sample → may cause unreliable or falsely high results.
- Anemia (low RBC count) → less crowding, faster fall.
- Tube not vertical or tilted → increases ESR.
- High room temperature → increases sedimentation rate.
- Delay in testing (>2 hrs after collection) → RBC shape changes increase rouleaux formation.
- Overfilled tube (insufficient anticoagulant) → ↑ Falsely high ESR
Sometimes the issue isn’t the patient it’s the sample handling!
Always check pre-analytical factors before trusting the numbers.”
Stay updated with Hemostasis Today.
-
Nov 3, 2025, 08:23The 1st Participant in A New CHECK-NIRS Clinical Study is Enrolled!
-
Nov 3, 2025, 08:15Bert van Meurs Shares the New Late-breaking Results from the iMODERN Trial
-
Nov 3, 2025, 07:10Lisa Shea Shares Key Takeaways from NORD Summit 2025
-
Nov 3, 2025, 06:49Darshan Doshi on Results of iMODERN and ILIAS ANOCA Studies Presented at TCT 2025
-
Nov 2, 2025, 14:172019 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the Management of Dyslipidaemias Discussion with Lale Tokgözoğlu and Jeanine Roeters van Lennep
-
Nov 3, 2025, 09:13Claudio Carrubba on How Timing Truly Matters in Trauma Embolization
-
Nov 3, 2025, 08:46Rachel Lamerton and Colleagues on Activation of Platelets in Flow Cytometry
-
Nov 3, 2025, 04:56Nirupama Ramadas and Erica Sparkenbaugh on Thromboinflammation in SCD
-
Nov 2, 2025, 14:21Claude Franceschi: I Advise You to Understand the Hemodynamic Pathophysiology of Venous Diseases Rather than Blindly Applying Ablation Techniques or Venous Stent Placement
-
Nov 2, 2025, 14:15Krishna Aragam: Why are (DCM) and Heart Failure About Twice as Common in Individuals of Self-Identified Black Race?
-
Oct 29, 2025, 07:31The Use of Artificial Intelligence to Improve Detection of Acute Incidental Pulmonary Emboli - JTH
-
Oct 29, 2025, 07:05Shrinidhi Nathany: AI in Diagnostic Medicine
-
Oct 28, 2025, 07:02Aya Berman: AI Model for Predicting Bacteremia
-
Oct 28, 2025, 06:55The New Era of Genomics, AI and Cell Therapy in Hematology and Infectious Diseases
-
Oct 28, 2025, 06:49Lukas Gaats: Researchers Are Building Reproductive Organoids
-
Nov 3, 2025, 09:24Stephen Cornelissen: It’s Not Just About Emergencies — It’s About Everyday Care, Chronic Conditions and Hope
-
Nov 3, 2025, 06:57Maria Elisa Mancuso Reflects on 2025 Annual Congress of the Italian Association of Hemophilia Centres
-
Nov 3, 2025, 05:46Chandra Viswanathan: When Blood Safety Fails, We All Bleed - A Call for Reform and Responsibility
-
Nov 2, 2025, 14:17Anamaria B: Your Mother Still Runs Part of Your DNA
-
Nov 2, 2025, 10:57Paul Bolaji on Launching The First Centralised Nigerian National Stroke Registry
Nov 3, 2025, 09:13
Nov 3, 2025, 08:23
Nov 3, 2025, 07:10
Nov 3, 2025, 04:56