sed rate
Noun: A laboratory measurement of the speed at which red blood cells (erythrocytes) fall and settle at the bottom of a vertical tube of blood over a set period, typically one hour. A faster-than-normal settling rate is a general, non-specific indicator of inflammation or other disease processes in the body.
The term "sed rate" is used almost exclusively in medical contexts to discuss the results of this specific diagnostic test. It is often reported alongside other clinical findings. - The doctor ordered a sed rate test to check for signs of inflammation. - Her elevated sed rate suggested an underlying infection. - A normal sed rate can help rule out certain inflammatory conditions.
- "sed rate" as a prognostic marker: In some chronic diseases, the sed rate can be used to monitor disease activity and response to treatment over time.
- The patient's decreasing sed rate indicated that the new medication was effective.
- ESR: The full and more formal term is Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate. "Sed rate" is a common abbreviation for this.
- The lab report listed the ESR result.
- Inflammatory marker: This is a broader category of blood tests that includes the sed rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP).
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR): The full, formal name for the test.
- Sedimentation rate: A slightly more formal variant.
The "sed rate" itself is a numerical value (e.g., 15 mm/hr). It is a non-specific test, meaning a high result indicates the presence of inflammation but does not diagnose its specific cause. Causes can range from infection and autoimmune diseases to pregnancy or anemia.
- the rate at which red blood cells settle out in a tube of blood under standardized conditions; a high rate usually indicates the presence of inflammation