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Hematology laboratory analyzers designed for automated measurement and display of the rate of sinking of red blood cells in a volume of well-mixed venous whole blood sample (i.e., erythrocyte sedimentation rate, or ESR, typically expressed in millimeters per hour). These analyzers include specially designed sample cuvettes and sensors (e.g., infrared light). High erythrocyte sedimentation rate is usually due to elevated plasma proteins; moderate elevation usually indicates inflammatory diseases and/or anemia; marked increases may be related to hyperfibrinogenemias, hypergammaglobulinemias, and other abnormal conditions. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate can also be determined manually by measuring the distance that the top of the column of erythrocytes falls in an undisturbed anticoagulated blood sample in a specified time interval, following standardized (e.g., Westergren) methods.
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