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Trusted to do over 100,000 tests per month.
ESR Blood Test

 


ESR BLOOD TEST

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£97.00
£97.00 - £97.00
£97.00
£97.00 - £97.00
1 biomarker
7 days
Instructions
FAQ

The Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) blood test assists in the diagnosis of conditions related to severe and persistent inflammation, including infections and autoimmune disorders.

Simple and accurate blood test from a laboratory you can speak to.

Special handling required. Not available at the following clinics: Cambridge, Chelmsford, Exeter, Liverpool, Plymouth, Maidstone, Bristol, Cheltenham, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Birmingham and Cardiff.

PLEASE DO NOT BOOK THIS TEST ON THE 2nd and 23rd of MAY (BOTH FRIDAYS) AS WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RUN IT DUE TO BANK HOLIDAY.



STEP 1 - CHOOSE YOUR SAMPLE COLLECTION OPTION
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ESR BLOOD TEST OVERVIEW

ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) is a blood test that is used to test for inflammation. The ESR may be raised in many different conditions ranging from infection and injuries to autoimmune and other inflammatory conditions.

It is also used more specifically in the diagnosis of Temporal Arteritis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica.

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ESR BLOOD TEST

An ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) blood test measures how quickly red blood cells settle at the bottom of a test tube over a specified period.

This rate reflects the degree of inflammation in the body: certain proteins released during inflammatory processes cause red blood cells to clump together and sink faster.

1 BIOMARKER

  1. HAEMATOLOGY FUNCTION

    - ESR 

  2. UPGRADE

    Need more biomarkers? Add this biomarker to our Essential All Systems Blood Test.

  1. TURNAROUND TIME

    We are extremely fast, with some results available within hours and others within a working day or less, from the time your sample is in our lab. However, this is not a guarantee and should not be taken as such. This is the guideline turnaround time that can be shorter or longer.


    THIS IS NOT A GUARANTEED TURNAROUND TIME.


    We are extremely proud of our very short turnaround times and a very efficient laboratory processes, you will start receiving results as soon as they are available and have completed clinical validation.


    Whilst we accommodate the shortest of time scales, with some results available within hours, for this particular test the usual turnaround time is: 7 working days.

  1. WILL I HAVE A GENERAL EXPLANATION OF MY RESULTS?

    Yes, our doctors put a huge amount of effort into your online Health Dashboard, which will have explanations of what each biomarker is, the normal reference ranges and what it means if you are outside of them.


    This service is included in the price of all our tests.

  1. CAN I SEE A GP TO DISCUSS MY RESULTS?

    Yes, usually the same or next day.


    One Day Tests has a fantastic clinical team of consultants and GPs. Once you have your results you can book an online video consultation to discuss your results.


    Our clinical team consists of practicing NHS and private GPs, who work closely with our laboratory and can tell you what your blood test results mean for you. Having an integrated laboratory and GP services makes your health journey seamless and extremely efficient.


    This service is not included in the price of the test, it is charged separately, should you wish to book it.

DOCTOR'S COMMENTS

Hi, I am Dr. Adam Staten and here's my view on this test as a GP and Clinical Director at One Day Tests.

DR. ADAM STATEN - GP VIEW AND RED FLAG SYMPTOMS

A high level of ESR does not give a diagnosis by itself but suggests that something is causing inflammation within the body. The cause of this may be obvious, such as infection, but sometimes other investigations and examinations may be necessary to determine the cause. ESR also tends to rise with age and may be elevated in pregnancy.

A low ESR is not usually clinically significant but may be seen in some rarer blood disorders. 

Red flag symptoms for the ESR Blood Test

Your Results and Health Dashboard

The results of your ESR Blood Test will be emailed to you as a secured PDF file, ready for your GP and will also be uploaded to our Health Dashboard area of the website. It’s a unique and powerful tool, powered by our in-house clinical analysis research, to match your biomarkers across test panels and symptoms, as well as provide clinical commentary on all individual biomarkers you tested for.

The health dashboard will also provide "panel level" commentary - a birds eye view of the biomarkers that were tested. This feature allows you to view your test results and clinical commentary, and compare them to previous results, giving you a clear understanding of how your health is progressing.

By using the Health Dashboard, you can identify changes in your biomarkers and make necessary adjustments to your lifestyle. This added value is immense, as it empowers you to monitor your health and make informed decisions about your well-being.

It's free and is available with all of our tests.

SAVE ON CONTINUOUS MONITORING WITH OUR SUBSCRIPTION PLAN

The best way to look after your health is to do so regularly. This is easy to do with our continual monitoring plans which give you a discount on future blood tests. You choose the frequency and we'll do the rest.

When you purchase a subscription, we will deliver your home test kits or allow you to book appointments in line with your chosen frequency. You will be able to track your biomarkers over time in our powerful Health Dashboard, where results will be automatically updated for you. There is a minimum of 3 tests with any subscription, after which you can pause/restart/cancel at any time.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

Hi, I am Stefania Brown, I am the Laboratory Manager at One Day Tests and here are the lab's special requests for the ESR Blood Test.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

You don't need any special preparations for this test, however please make sure you are well hydrated.

Clinic appointment - how to prepare for the ESR Blood Test

If you are coming into one of our clinics for the test, this is what you need to do before you arrive:

  • Read the instructions in the SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS section
  • Drink plenty of water about an hour before the appointment.
  • Avoid coffee/tea/energy drinks. Water is good!
  • That’s it! We’ll do the rest.

Home test kit - how it works with the ESR Blood Test

Our blood test kits are simple and convenient.

The most important step in doing a blood test at home is to read the instructions very carefully. The process is very simple, but there are a few pitfalls you need to be aware of - you will save yourself a lot of time if you do it right the first time around!

  • Full printed instructions will arrive with your kit - please read them carefully.
  • Drink plenty before taking the sample and warm your hands up in the sink with warm water for a few minutes. This will make your blood flow much better.
  • Fill the tubes to the top line. We don’t need much blood; filling tubes to the top line is about 15 drops of blood.
  • Post the samples on the same day you take them, before midday, Monday to Thursday. If you post it any other time it might get to us late or be stuck at a sorting office over the weekend. You will then have to do it again.
  • Package the sample in the same box the kit came in. Otherwise, Royal Mail or DPD will reject it. The sample tubes go into a pouch, then into a cardboard box, and then into a return envelope. All of this is provided in the kit: please use it.

We look forward to receiving your sample in our lab!

HOW OUR HOME KITS WORK

How the finger prick home blood test kit for ESR Blood Test works - from Dr. Adam Staten

Follow our step by step instructions on how to take your sample quickly and easily using the blood sample collection finger prick test.

WHY CHOOSE US?

Hello! My name is Dr. Vinesh Mistry, I am part of the GP team here at One Day Tests and here is why you should trust us to test your blood.

QUICK AND ACCURATE RESULTS DIRECT FROM A LABORATORY.

We run our own regulated laboratories and our own accredited clinics. We manufacture our own approved home sample collection kits. Your results are looked after by our fantastic clinical governance team and our super-talented biomedical science team.

When you book your test with us - you book directly with the lab. This means accuracy and responsible duty of care, direct access to the provider and extremely fast turnaround times.

Finally, our customer services rock! You can ask the lab a question any time or you can speak to a real human. You can email us on hello@onedaytests.com or give us a call on 0127 309 2844.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Hi, I am Lana Nela, Lead Nurse, and here is what we are frequently asked about this test.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the ESR Blood Test.

What is an ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) test?

An ESR test measures how quickly your red blood cells (erythrocytes) settle to the bottom of a test tube over a specific period (usually one hour). In a healthy state, red blood cells sink relatively slowly. However, when your body is fighting inflammation or infection, it produces proteins, like fibrinogen, that cause blood cells to cluster and settle faster.

The ESR test thus provides a general marker of inflammation in the body. Although it doesn’t pinpoint a specific condition by itself, it often serves as a clue that further investigation is needed.

What conditions can an ESR test help diagnose or monitor?

The ESR test is used to detect and track a wide range of conditions related to inflammation or abnormal immune responses, such as:

Autoimmune disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus): ESR can rise when immune responses attack the body’s own cells.

Infections (bacterial or certain chronic infections): Elevated ESR can hint at persistent inflammation caused by an infection.

Chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease): ESR levels often correlate with the severity of the inflammatory process.

Certain cancers: While ESR is not a cancer test, a persistently high ESR may prompt doctors to rule out underlying malignancies if other risk factors are present.

It’s important to remember that a higher (or lower) ESR does not provide a definitive diagnosis. Your GP would typically use ESR in conjunction with other blood tests, imaging, and clinical evaluations to pinpoint the exact cause of inflammation.

Why is the ESR test important for my overall health assessment?

Early Indicator of Inflammation: Because ESR goes up in response to inflammation, it can alert doctors to hidden or ongoing inflammatory processes before more obvious symptoms appear.

Monitoring Disease Progression: In chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, periodic ESR measurements help track how well treatments are working or whether the disease is flaring.

Guiding Further Testing: An elevated or abnormal ESR doesn’t diagnose a disease on its own, but it does prompt additional tests (like CRP, imaging, or specific antibody tests) to uncover the root cause.

Assessing Treatment Effectiveness: Decreases in ESR over time can indicate that a chosen therapy is reducing inflammation, which can help doctors fine-tune medications or treatment plans.

In essence, the ESR test is a useful screening and monitoring tool for understanding inflammatory activity in your body. While it’s not diagnostic by itself, it can be an important piece of the puzzle in keeping your health on track.

WHY HAVE THE TEST?

Hi, I am Nader Eldarf, I am a Biomedical Scientist in our laboratory and here is why it's important to take this test.

  1. WHY HAVE THE ESR BLOOD TEST?

IS THIS TEST RIGHT FOR YOU?

Hi, I am Sandeep Patel, I am the Laboratory Director at One Day Tests. Here are the symptoms that you may wish to address with this test.

  1. IS THE ESR BLOOD TEST RIGHT FOR YOU?

  1. SYMPTOMS AND TAGS

    Inflammation

WHY ARE BLOOD TESTS IMPORTANT?

Health monitoring is very important, you are in charge of your health - look after it.