[Blood sedimentation rate in healthy persons]

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was determined using the Westergren method in 4,202 consecutive blood donors aged 18-65 years. The distribution of the values was log normal for both females and males. The median value was highest in females for all age classes and although both the median and the range rose in both sexes with increasing age, the increase was most pronounced in females. Used as a screening test, the fraction of false positives showed a marked rise after age 45 years using cut-off values of 15 and 20 mm/hr, while the increase took place after age 55 years when 25 mm/hr was applied. The results point to increasing the most frequently used cut-off values and one cut-off value for premenopausal women and another, higher, value for postmenopausal women may be considered. For men a single cut-off value seems adequate.