SRT 10/II
USER MANUAL
page 31 of 37
APPENDIX
A. THEORETICAL INFORMATION
A.1 Westergren Method
This is the standard method in accordance with the National Committee for Clinical
Laboratory Standards. It consists in a support that keeps the Westergren tubes, containing
non-clottable blood perfectly vertical and hermetically sealed. Westergren tubes have a
diameter of not less than 2.55 mm and are graduated up to 200 mm.
As soon as the sample is taken, it is mixed with a 3.2 % sodium citrate solution, in the ratio of
respectively four to one (1.6 ml + 0.4 ml of sodium citrate). The blood thus prepared and well
mixed is drawn into a Westergren tube up to the zero mark. The tube is putted in the
appropriate support and the erythrocyte level is read after 60 and 120 min.
A.2 Variations of ESR
A. Net increase of ESR (100 mm or more per hour)
1. Multiple myeloma and
12. Internal hemorrhage
Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia
13. Acute hepatitis
2. Malignant lymphoma
14. Ectopic pregnancy
3. Leukemia unbroken after the third month
4. Serious anemia
15. Broken ectopic pregnancy
5. Carcinomas
16. Menstruation
6. Sarcomas
17. Normal pregnancy after the
7. Serious bacterial infections
third month
8. Collagenosis
18. Oral contraceptives taken
9. Biliary or portal cirrhosis
19. Tuberculosis
10. Ulcerous colitis
20. Postcommissurotomy syndrome
11. Serious nephrosis
21. Dextran administered intravenously
