Sed rate, also known as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, is a medical test used to determine the presence of inflammation in the body. The spelling of "Sed Rate" can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription as /sɛd reɪt/. The first syllable is pronounced as "sed" with a short "e" sound followed by a "d" sound. The second syllable is pronounced as "rate" with a long "a" sound and a clear "t" sound. This spelling is important in the medical field to accurately identify and communicate about this diagnostic test.
Sed Rate, also known as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or simply sedimentation rate, is a laboratory blood test that measures the rate at which red blood cells settle at the bottom of a test tube over time. It is a non-specific marker of inflammation and is commonly used to support the diagnosis and monitor the progression of various medical conditions, particularly those that involve inflammation.
During the test, a sample of blood is collected and placed in a tall, narrow tube. Over a period of one hour, the red blood cells gradually sink to the bottom of the tube under the influence of gravity. The distance the red blood cells fall in one hour is expressed as the sed rate, typically measured in millimeters per hour (mm/hr).
The sed rate is influenced by numerous factors, mainly inflammation-related proteins in the blood called acute phase reactants, which cause the red blood cells to clump, become heavier, and settle faster. Higher sed rates suggest the presence of inflammation, while lower rates indicate its absence. However, this test is non-specific, meaning it does not provide a diagnosis but serves as an indicator that further investigation is required.
The sed rate is commonly used in the diagnosis and monitoring of various diseases, such as infections, autoimmune disorders, certain cancers, and chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Since the sed rate is an indirect measure of inflammation, it is often used in conjunction with other clinical findings and tests to guide medical decision-making.
The term sed rate is an abbreviation for erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
The word erythrocyte refers to red blood cells, which are responsible for carrying oxygen in the body. Sedimentation in this context refers to the process of settling or sinking to the bottom. And rate simply signifies the measurement of the speed at which the settling occurs.
Therefore, the etymology of sed rate can be traced back to the Latin word sedimentum meaning settling, sediment, and the Latin word ratio meaning reckoning, calculation, rate.