Sedimentation Rate: What To Think About
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What To Think About
- Even though some problems, such as giant cell arteritis, almost always cause a high sedimentation rate (sed rate), the test cannot be used by itself to identify a specific disease. Results of a sed rate test are considered along with your symptoms, other test results, and medical information.
- Some diseases that cause inflammation do not increase the sed rate, so a normal sed rate does not always rule out a disease.
- Some doctors use the C-reactive protein (CRP) blood test instead of the sed rate test to help identify inflammatory conditions. For more information, see the medical test C-Reactive Protein (CRP).
| Last updated: | June 12, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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