title: A Comparison Between the StaRRsed Auto-Compact Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Instrument and the Westergren Method.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Westergren method is the golden standard for measuring erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). All ESR methods should agree with the standardized method of the International Council for Standardization in Hematology (ICSH). Citrate samples are commonly used for ESR. This extra sample adds costs and can be inconvenient for the patient. Therefore, some new automated ESR analyzers use EDTA samples, which are available for other hematology measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared ESR measurements with StaRRsed Auto-Compact instrument to the ICSH standardized Westergren method in 200 patient samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The correlation between methods was fairly good (R(2) = 0.72, y = 1.066x 0.24). However, with ESR results over 11 mm/h there were 55 subjects with a difference of over 30% between methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This may have led to different treatment suggestions in 25 cases according to age- and gender-dependent normal values. The difference may be caused by two different anticoagulants used, different measuring times and the correlation equation used. The StaRRsed ESR method should be in better agreement with the Westergren method, which is the golden standard. ESR results have notable impact on patient diagnosis and follow-up.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ESR; Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; StaRRsed; Westergren method.
authors: Tampere University Hospital, Centre for Laboratory Medicine, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Tampere, Finland.
authors: Juha
authors: J
authors: Horsti
authors: Riikka
authors: R
authors: Rontu
authors: Auni
authors: A
authors: Collings