Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Measurements by TEST 1 Better Reflect Inflammation Than Do Those by the Westergren Method in Patients With Malignancy, Autoimmune Disease, or Infection

Abstract

We compared the TEST 1 (Alifax, Padova, Italy) and Westergren methods of measuring the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) to assess inflammation. The ESR was measured by both methods in 154 blood samples from patients with malignancy (n 69), autoimmune disease (n = 44), or infection (17 4 1). Total protein, albumin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured in each plasma sample, and albumin and (alpha(1)-, alpha(2)-, beta(1)-, beta(2)-, and gamma-globulin fractions were measured by capillary electrophoresis. TEST 1 ESR values were signficantly lower than the Westergren values, by 10.9 mm/h, We found that the correlations of TEST I ESR values with inflammatory protein levels (total protein, globulin, CRP and alpha(1)-, alpha(2)-, beta(2)-, and gamma-globulin) were better than those obtained using the Westergren method. Thesefindings indicate that ESR measurements by TEST I reflect inflammation better than do those by the Westergren method in patients with malignancy, autoimmune disease, or infection.