Here’s something about a new ESR analyser that came via the
nice people at the Medical Laboratory Observer. There are those who are
incredibly scathing about the ESR. There are those who call it a totally
non-specific test and had long since been superseded by all sorts of other
tests.
However I can remember my old GP singing
the praises of the ESR. He told me he had a few minutes with a patient. Were they
ill? Were they looking to get a sick note? He told me that given a high ESR he
knows he has to investigate further, but given a normal result, he can tell the
patient to clear off with a clear conscience.
In the hospital setting the ESR is of
limited use (at best), but for the GP it is invaluable. And that’s why
we keep on doing them.
No comments:
Post a Comment