Geisinger Medical Laboratories Test Catalog

Order Display Name: Geisinger Epic Procedure Code Or ID CPT Code:  

ERYTHROCYTE SEDIMENTATION RATE (ESR)

ORDERING INFORMATION:
Geisinger Epic Procedure Code: LAB2234         Geisinger Epic ID: 7219

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type:
 Whole blood
Preferred collection container:
Alternate Collection Container:
Lavender-top (K2 EDTA) microcollection tube
Specimen required:
One (1) lavender-top (K2 EDTA) tube properly filled. Minimum sample volume is 500µL whole blood.
Special notes:
 If STAT measurement of inflammation needed, perform CRP (C-reactive protein).
SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Specimen processing instructions:
Do not centrifuge. Specimen must be sent as whole blood. 
Transport temperature:
 Room temperature (GMC) or refrigerated (non-GMC).
Specimen stability:
 Room temperature: 6 hours. Refrigerated: 24 hours.
Rejection criteria:
 Clotted, frozen, centrifuged, hemolyzed and improperly filled. Specimens received beyond stability.
TEST DETAILS
Reference interval:
Age Male Female Unknown
<15 years <13mm/hr <13mm/hr <13 mm/hour
15-50 years <15mm/hr <20mm/hr <15 mm/hour
>50 years <20mm/hr <30mm/hr <15 mm/hour
Interpretation guide:
 Interferences:
  1. Sickle cell anemia and hemolysis disrupts the red cell sedimentation falsely lowers ESR results.
  2. Multiple myeloma causes red cell sedimentation from rouleaux formation and not inflammation, falsely increasing results.
  3. Extreme lipemia changes the viscosity of the sample, interfering with the measurement and may cause error message.
Additional information:

Turnaround Times

Routine 4 Hours
STAT 1 Hour
Extended TAT 3 Days
Timed 60 Minutes
Pending Discharge 45 Minutes
CPT code(s):
 85652
Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding.  Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed.  The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.
Methodology:
Rheology technology that directly measures rouleaux formation to determine the red cell sedimentation
Synonyms:
Sed Rate, ESR, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
Sed rate by modified Westergren
Clinical significance:
Nonspecific marker of inflammation, especially in chronic diseases. ESR tends to be elevated in monoclonal blood protein disorders (multiple myeloma), severe polyclonal hyperglobulinemia due to inflammatory disease, and hyperfibrinogenemia.
Doctoral Director(s:)
Mary Dhesi MD    
Review Date: 01/09/2023

Performing Locations

Geisinger Medical Center

Performing laboratory: Hematology
Technical Lead: Margaret Knowles-Tuchman
Frequency: Daily, all shifts
Performed STAT? Yes
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