Methodology

ALCOR iSED  Sedimentation of Red Blood Cells, by photometrical rheology.

An increased ESR is caused by elevated levels of fibrinogen and, to a lesser extent, alpha 2-globulins, beta globulins, and gamma globulins. Rouleaux, anemia, microcytosis, pregnancy, monoclonal blood protein disorders (ie, multiple myeloma or macroglobulinemia), severe polyclonal hyperglobulinemias due to inflammatory disease, hyperfibrinogenemias, active inflammatory disease (ie, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic infections, collagen disease, and neoplastic disease) may all cause an increased ESR. A decreased ESR may be caused by macrocytosis, or red cells with an abnormal or irregular shape (ie, sickle cells or spherocytes).