title: Erythrocyte sedimentation tests as an aid to diagnosis.
abstract: As part of a continuing series focusing on the way the work of clinical laboratories contributes to patient care, this article describes the ESR test, one of the oldest blood tests still performed in clinical laboratories. Consideration is given to the collection of blood for this commonly requested test and the way in which results are used in clinical practice.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Higgins
mesh_terms: D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood