Mediki
ESR blood test: what your result means
ESR measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a test tube. It is a general marker of inflammation.
- Category
- Inflammation
- Standard unit
- mm/h
- Reported in
- mm/h, mm/hr
What does high ESR mean?
Higher values may suggest inflammation or ongoing immune activity. What counts as high depends on the reference range printed on your lab report, because ranges differ between laboratories.
What does low ESR mean?
Lower values are usually less clinically significant but can occur with certain blood composition patterns. What counts as low depends on the reference range printed on your lab report, because ranges differ between laboratories.
ESR units and conversion
Mediki shows ESR in mm/h. Labs may report it in other units; Mediki converts them automatically so results from different labs line up on one chart.
mm/hr is numerically the same as mm/h, so no conversion is needed.
Why track ESR over time?
A single ESR result is a snapshot. Comparing it with your earlier tests shows whether a value is stable, slowly drifting, or responding to a change in treatment or lifestyle, which is often more useful than one number on its own.
Read our guide on how to read blood test results to understand reference ranges, flags and units.
Track your ESR results in one chart
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Sources
Medical disclaimer: This page is general information, not medical advice. Reference ranges differ between laboratories, and only a doctor can interpret your results in the context of your health.