This study examined the influence of temperature and time on the pre-analytical stability of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) measured on a TEST1 system. The first experiment included 102 samples stored at room temperature and the second experiment included 112 subjects and investigated refrigerated (2-8 °C) storage. Our study showed a stable ESR results at room temperature (15-25 °C) up to 8 h (p = 0.512). Samples stored at 2-8 °C for 24 h were stable (p = 0.280) for 24 h.
Keywords: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; infrared microphotometer; pre-analytical stability; preanalytical storage; temperature.