An ESR of 31 mm/hr in a female over 50 would be considered within the normal reference range.

An ESR of 31 mm/hr in a female over 50 would be considered within the normal reference range.

• A. It is within the normal range.
• B. It is not a valid ESR value.
• C. It is always elevated in pregnancy.
• D. It would be outside the normal range.

Answer: (D)

ESR is a nonspecific marker of inflammation, and its normal range depends on age and sex. For adult women, the upper limit increases with age and is typically about 30 mm/hr for someone over 50. An ESR of 31 mm/hr exceeds that upper limit, so it would be outside the normal reference range for a woman in this age group. The value is not inherently invalid, and while pregnancy can raise ESR, this scenario describes a postmenopausal woman, so the elevated value reflects being outside the typical normal range rather than a pregnancy-related change.

ESR is a nonspecific marker of inflammation, and its normal range depends on age and sex. For adult women, the upper limit increases with age and is typically about 30 mm/hr for someone over 50. An ESR of 31 mm/hr exceeds that upper limit, so it would be outside the normal reference range for a woman in this age group. The value is not inherently invalid, and while pregnancy can raise ESR, this scenario describes a postmenopausal woman, so the elevated value reflects being outside the typical normal range rather than a pregnancy-related change.