COMPARISON OF TWO DIFFERENT METHODS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF ERYTHROCYTE SEDIMENTATION RATE WITH REFERENCE WESTERGREN METHOD.

Objectives: The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is widely used as an acute phase reactant test which has low sensitivity and high specificity. There are several different methods to determine the ESR, but the conventional Westergren method is still referred to as the reference method and for validation of new ESR methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performances of automated ESR systems with the reference Westergren method. Vision device which uses infrared technique and Test-1 device based on the photometrical capillary flow kinetic analysis were evaluated. Materials-Methods: Blood samples were collected from 63 adult patients in K2EDTA and citrated tubes and measured within 4 hours in accordance with recommendation of International Council for Standardization in Haematology. The calculations were performed by using MedCalc Statistical Software version 14. 8. 1. Results: The mean ± SD ESR was 12. 34 ± 11. 14 mm/hr for Weatergren method, 12. 04 ± 11. 16 mm/hr for Test-1 and 12. 52 ± 11. 47 mm/hr for Vision. There was no significant difference between the median values of the Test-1 and Vision and Westergren method (P = 0. 233; P = 0. 409, respectively) There was a significant positive correlation between the three methods (r = 0. 967, r = 0. 995 and r = 0. 959, respectively) (p<0. 0001). Conclusions: Test-1 and Vision devices can be used in routine laboratory when compared with the reference Westergren method. To reduce workload and processing time, it is preferable to use automated sedimentation devices. Nevertheless, the results of patients not compatible with the clinic should be checked with the reference Westergren method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]