Alberta Precision Laboratories

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Organization:

Alberta Precision Laboratories

Test Name/Synonym:

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
(Synonym: ESR)

Ordering Alert:

In most cases, C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is the preferred test over ESR and will be automatically substituted for the ESR as per laboratory protocol.

For 3rd party client testing the clinical criteria does not apply. CRP should not be substituted for ESR testing in these cases.

LABID (Connect Care):

LAB322

Specimen Type:

Blood

Primary Container:

Primary Container	Zone	Performing Sites
BLACK-CITRATE (EXCYTE®)	Calgary Zone	Diagnostic & Scientific Centre, Foothills Medical Centre, Peter Lougheed Centre, Rockyview General Hospital, South Health Campus
BLACK-CITRATE (EXCYTE®)	Edmonton Zone	Edmonton Base Lab, Royal Alex Hospital, University of Alberta Hospital
BLACK-CITRATE (IMPROVACUTER®)	Calgary Zone	Airdrie Community Health Centre, Cochrane Community Health Centre, Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre, South Calgary Health Centre
	Central Zone	Bashaw, Camrose, Castor, Consort, Coronation, Daysland, Drayton Valley, Drumheller, Hanna, Hardisty, Innisfail, Killam, Lacombe, Lamont, Olds, Ponoka, Provost, Red Deer, Rimbey, Rocky Mountain House, Stettler, Sundre, Sylvan Lake, Three Hills, Tofield, Two Hills, Vegreville, Vermilion, Viking, Wainwright, Wetaskiwin
	Edmonton Zone	Devon Hospital, East Edmonton HC, Fort Sask Hospital, Grey Nuns Hospital, Leduc Hospital, Misericordia Hospital, Northeast HC, Redwater HC, Strathcona Hospital, Sturgeon Hospital, Westview HC
	North Zone	Athabasca HC, Barrhead HC, Beaverlodge Municipal Hospital, Bonnyville HC, Boyle HC, Central Peace HC, Cold Lake HC, Edson HC, Elk Point HC, Fairview,HC, Fox Creek HC, Grande Cache HC, Grande Prairie Regional Hospital, Grimshaw/Berwyn HC, High Prairie HC, Hinton HC, Jasper HC, La Crete, Lac La Biche HC, Manning HC, Mayerthorpe HC, McLennan Sacred Heart HC, Northern Lights Regional HC (FMH), Northwest HC (HLH), Peace River HC, Slave Lake HC, Smoky Lake HC, St. Paul HC, St. Theresa General Hospital (FVH), Swan Hills HC, Valleyview HC, Wabasca Desmarais HC, Westlock HC, Whitecourt HC
	South Zone	Bassano Health Centre, Bow Island Health Centre, Brooks Health Centre, Cardston Hospital, Chinook Regional Hospital, Coaldale Hospital, Crowsnest Pass Hospital, Fort Macleod Hospital, Magrath Hospital, Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, Milk River Hospital, Oyen big Country Hospital, Picture Butte, Pincher Creek Hospital, Raymond Hospital, Taber Hospital
LAVENDER EDTA	Calgary Zone	Alberta Children's Hospital, Banff Mineral Springs Hospital, Canmore General Hospital, High River General Hospital, Strathmore District Health Services, Claresholm General Hospital, Didsbury District Health Services, Oilfields General Hospital, Okotoks Health & Wellness Urgent Care Centre, Vulcan Health Centre

Alternate Containers:

LAVENDER EDTA

Minimum Collection Volume:

BLACK-CITRATE (EXCYTE®)	1.36 mL
BLACK-CITRATE (IMPROVACUTER®)	1.6 mL
LAVENDER EDTA	2.0 mL Alberta Children’s Hospital pediatric: LAVENDER EDTA or three microcollection EDTA tubes filled to the 500 µL mark

Specimen Collection Requirements:

The 1.36 mL BLACK-CITRATE (EXCYTE®) ESR tube is used for ESR testing ONLY.

Allow tube to fill until vacuum is exhausted (blood will stop entering the tube).
Tube must be filled to the minimum fill line and not more than the maximum fill line on the tube.
Mix well immediately after collection by inverting tube 3 to 4 times.
When using a winged collection set (butterfly needle), a discard tube must be used to remove the air in the tubing, if only a black top ESR tube is drawn or is the first tube drawn.
Ensure patient label is applied to the tube above the maximum fill line.

The 1.6 mL BLACK-CITRATE IMPROVACUTER® ESR Tube (4NC) tube is used for ESR testing ONLY.

Place patient's arm in a downward position to ensure the tube remains at a level below the puncture site to prevent tube additives flowing back into the patient.
Mix well immediately after collection by inverting tube 3 to 4 times.

Alberta Children’s Hospital pediatric: 4 mL LAVENDER EDTA or one 3 mL LAVENDER EDTA or three microcollection EDTA tubes filled to the 500 µL mark

Test Resources:

General Laboratory Requisition – 21302

Stability and Storage:

BLACK-CITRATE (EXCYTE®)	Room temperature 18 hours
BLACK-CITRATE (IMPROVACUTER®) LAVENDER EDTA	Room temperature 6 hours Refrigerated 24 hours

Processing:

DO NOT centrifuge.
Do not remove cap from the tube as this is a closed system test.

Testing Schedule:

Daily

Reference Interval:

0 up to 18 years	Less than or equal to 10 mm/hr
Female 18 years up to 150 years	Less than or equal to 20 mm/hr
Males 18 years up to 150 years	Less than or equal to 15 mm/hr
X/Unknown 18 years up to 150 years	Less than or equal to 15 mm/hr

Testing Area:

Hematology

Performing Site:

Calgary Zone	Alberta Children's Hospital, Foothills Medical Centre, Diagnostic and Scientific Centre, Peter Lougheed Centre, Rockyview General Hospital, South Health Campus, Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre, South Calgary Health Centre, Airdrie Community Health Centre, Cochrane Community Health Centre, Banff Mineral Springs Hospital Canmore General Hospital, High River General Hospital, Strathmore District Health Services, Claresholm General Hospital, Didsbury District Health Services, Oilfields General Hospital, Okotoks Health & Wellness Urgent Care Centre, Vulcan Health Centre
Central Zone	Bashaw, Camrose, Castor, Consort, Coronation, Daysland, Drayton Valley, Drumheller, Hanna, Hardisty, Innisfail, Killam, Lacombe, Lamont, Olds, Ponoka, Provost, Red Deer, Rimbey, Rocky Mountain House, Stettler, Sundre, Sylvan Lake, Three Hills, Tofield, Two Hills, Vegreville, Vermilion, Viking, Wainwright, Wetaskiwin
Edmonton Zone	Devon Hospital, East Edmonton HC, Edmonton Base Lab, Fort Sask Hospital, Grey Nuns Hospital, Leduc Hospital, Misericordia Hospital, Northeast HC, Redwater HC, Royal Alex Hospital, Strathcona Hospital, Sturgeon Hospital, University of Alberta Hospital, Westview HC
North Zone	Athabasca HC, Barrhead HC, Beaverlodge Municipal Hospital, Bonnyville HC, Boyle HC, Central Peace HC, Cold Lake HC, Edson HC, Elk Point HC, Fairview,HC, Fox Creek HC, Grande Cache HC, Grande Prairie Regional Hospital, Grimshaw/Berwyn HC, High Prairie HC, Hinton HC, Jasper HC, Lac La Biche HC, Manning HC, Mayerthorpe HC, McLennan Sacred Heart HC, Northern Lights Regional HC (FMH), Northwest HC (HLH), Peace River HC, Slave Lake HC, Smoky Lake HC, St. Paul HC, St. Theresa General Hospital (FVH), Swan Hills HC, Valleyview HC, Wabasca Desmarais HC, Westlock HC, Whitecourt HC
South Zone	Bassano Health Centre, Bow Island Health Centre, Brooks Health Centre, Cardston Hospital, Chinook Regional Hospital, Coaldale Hospital, Crowsnest Pass Hospital, Fort Macleod Hospital, Magrath Hospital, Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, Milk River Hospital, Oyen big Country Hospital, Picture Butte, Pincher Creek Hospital, Raymond Hospital, Taber Hospital

Additional Test Information:

ESRs are unreliable in anemia, leading to false increases.
For sites that perform CRP testing, ESR order will be substituted with a CRP if clinical indications are not met. This does not apply to 3rd party client testing.

If the ESR is required, the physician must contact the laboratory.
Pediatric ESR testing is referred to Diagnostic and Scientific Centre or Edmonton Base Lab.

If an ESR is ordered by a rheumatologist, order LAB8322 and follow prompts in order or req entry.

Contact Comments:

1-877-868-6848

Last Updated On:

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Registered Trademark Comments:

EXCYTE® is a registered trademark of ELITechGroup
IMPROVACUTER® is a registered trademark of Guangzhou Improve Medical Instruments Co., Ltd.