Which ESR value would be normal for a female over 50?

Which ESR value would be normal for a female over 50?

• A. 18 mm/hr
• B. 22 mm/hr
• C. 28 mm/hr
• D. 40 mm/hr

Answer: (C)

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a nonspecific marker that tends to rise with age and is higher in women. For a woman over 50, the upper limit of normal is typically in the upper 20s to around 30 mm/hr, though exact cutoffs vary by lab. So an ESR around the upper 20s—roughly 28 mm/hr—fits the expected normal range for this group. Values that are substantially higher, like around 40 mm/hr, would raise concern for inflammation or another condition. Values in the lower 20s can be normal too, but in the context of age and sex, the reading in the upper 20s aligns best with normal aging.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a nonspecific marker that tends to rise with age and is higher in women. For a woman over 50, the upper limit of normal is typically in the upper 20s to around 30 mm/hr, though exact cutoffs vary by lab. So an ESR around the upper 20s—roughly 28 mm/hr—fits the expected normal range for this group. Values that are substantially higher, like around 40 mm/hr, would raise concern for inflammation or another condition. Values in the lower 20s can be normal too, but in the context of age and sex, the reading in the upper 20s aligns best with normal aging.