M I N I - C U B E – U S E R M A N U A L
Rev 1.3 06/2018 10/59
The instrument is designed with the temperature correction always activated
and relates the results to a temperature of 18°C according to
Manley’s
Nomogram (graph 1.0) (ref. 11). However, it is possible to de-select the
temperature correction for individual laboratory needs.
Graph 1.0 Manley’s Nomogram
Clinical meaning of ESR
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate measures the distance travelled by red
blood cells in autologous plasma for a certain period of time. In normal
conditions, red blood cells tend to reciprocally move apart due to the presence
of negative electric loads from the numerous residues of sialic acid present at a
membrane glycoprotein level. When the protein composition of plasma
changes with the production of “acute phase proteins” at hepatic level, following
an inflammatory process or tissue damage, the bond of these proteins
(fibrinogen, immunoglobulins) with the surface of the red blood cells, changes
the membrane potential negative load (Z) and the red blood cells can bind,
forming a rouleaux formation. These rouleauxed cells aggregate to form
microspheres of a uniform radius which sediment as their density exceeds that
of plasma. The ESR value increases in all conditions with increased acute
phase proteins, particularly fibrinogen which is considered to account for 70%
