HealthWise KnowledgeBase
Sedimentation Rate (Sed Rate)
What To Think About
- Even though some problems, such as giant cell arteritis, almost always cause a high sedimentation rate (sed rate), the test can't be used by itself to identify a specific disease. Results of a sed rate test are considered along with your symptoms, other test results, and medical information.
- Some diseases that cause inflammation do not increase the sed rate, so a normal sed rate does not always rule out a disease.
- Some doctors use the C-reactive protein (CRP) blood test instead of the sed rate test to help identify inflammatory conditions. For more information, see the topic Reference C-Reactive Protein (CRP).
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference June 4, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
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