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ESR Blood Test Inflammation

Feb 13, 2026

ESR Blood Test Inflammation

An ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) blood test measures how quickly your red blood cells settle to the bottom of a tube over one hour—a faster rate indicates inflammation in the body, making it useful for diagnosing and monitoring conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, temporal arteritis, and infections. While non-specific, ESR remains a valuable screening tool when inflammation is suspected.

At Blood Test London, ESR testing costs from £245 with results in 2-3 days.

Check Your Inflammation Levels

How ESR Works

When inflammation is present, proteins in the blood cause red blood cells to clump together and fall faster. The higher the ESR, the more inflammation is likely present.

Normal ESR Ranges

Group

Normal Range (mm/hr)

Men under 50

0-15

Men over 50

0-20

Women under 50

0-20

Women over 50

0-30

Interpretation

ESR Level

Interpretation

Normal

Low inflammation likelihood

Slightly elevated

Mild inflammation or normal variant

Moderately elevated (30-60)

Significant inflammation likely

Very high (>100)

Severe inflammation, infection, or malignancy

What Elevated ESR Can Indicate

Inflammatory Conditions

  • Rheumatoid arthritis

  • Temporal (giant cell) arteritis

  • Polymyalgia rheumatica

  • Lupus

  • Inflammatory bowel disease

Infections

  • Bacterial infections

  • Bone infections (osteomyelitis)

  • Endocarditis

  • Tuberculosis

Other Causes

  • Cancer (some types)

  • Kidney disease

  • Thyroid disorders

  • Anaemia

  • Pregnancy (normally elevated)

ESR vs CRP

Feature

ESR

CRP

Speed of change

Slow (days)

Fast (hours)

Specificity

Less specific

More specific

Best for

Monitoring chronic conditions

Detecting acute inflammation

Affected by

Age, gender, anaemia

Fewer factors

Often both are tested together for a complete picture.

When ESR Testing Is Useful

  • Investigating unexplained symptoms (fatigue, fever, weight loss)

  • Diagnosing suspected inflammatory conditions

  • Monitoring disease activity in known conditions

  • Assessing response to treatment

  • Investigating suspected temporal arteritis (important—can cause blindness)

Book Your ESR Test

Price: From £245
Results: 2-3 days
Doctor review: A doctor always reviews every result
Fasting required: No

Book via WhatsApp

Phone: 020 3951 3429

Blood Test London by The Wellness. ESR testing from £245, results in 2-3 days.