Westergren Method

ESR Tubes Glass are specialized glass tubes (300 mm length, 2.55 mm bore diameter, graduated 0-200 mm in 1 mm intervals) meeting ICSH and CLSI Westergren specifications for measuring erythrocyte sedimentation rate, a non-specific marker of inflammation. Used with citrated or diluted EDTA blood, filled to exactly 200 mm, placed vertically in Westergren stand, and read at 60 minutes. Primary clinical applications include determination of ESR for diagnosing and monitoring inflammatory conditions (infections, autoimmune disorders, malignancies), monitoring disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis, assessment of temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica, evaluation of infection and inflammatory response, screening for occult inflammatory conditions, and monitoring chronic inflammatory diseases (SLE, IBD, vasculitis). Critical safety precautions include handling glass tubes carefully to avoid breakage (sharps hazard), proper disposal in sharps containers as biohazardous waste, ensuring vertical alignment and constant temperature (18-25°C), reading at exactly 60 minutes, and avoiding air bubbles and vibration. Essential consumable for reference Westergren ESR testing in clinical laboratories.