ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)
The ESR measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a standardized tube and rises when inflammatory proteins cause them to clump. It is a nonspecific marker of inflammation used in conditions such as polymyalgia rheumatica, giant cell arteritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and infection. It changes more slowly than CRP and is often interpreted together with it.
Optimal range: who says what
No institution or named practitioner we track states an optimal target for ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate). How we verify ranges.
- No stated targetNo separate optimal establishedESR rises with age, anemia and inflammation; interpret against age- and sex-adjusted lab limits
- Lab reference intervalMen: <15 mm/hr under 50, <20 mm/hr over 50; Women: <20 mm/hr under 50, <30 mm/hr over 50 (MedlinePlus, Westergren)What a lab report flags against. A lab interval is not an optimal target.
7 of 21 itemized panels
Inflammation & Immune Markers
Why ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) matters
Non-specific marker that indicates presence of inflammation but not the cause. Elevated in infections, autoimmune diseases, and certain cancers. Often used alongside CRP.
Which Providers Test ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)?
Cheapest: Mito Health at $297/year. Most comprehensive: Function Health, 160+ biomarkers for $365/year.
7 panels that include it, cheapest first
| Provider | Annual Cost | Total Biomarkers | $/Biomarker |
|---|---|---|---|
| $297 | 100+ | $2.97 | |
 Superpower | $349 | 100+ | $3.49 |
| $349 | 75+ | $4.65 | |
 Function Health | $365 | 160+ | $2.28 |
| $375 | 108 | $3.47 | |
| $700 | 138 | $5.07 | |
| $1188 | 70+ | $16.97 |
$/Biomarker is annual cost divided by the panel's advertised biomarker count, not the price of this one test. We track 23 blood test providers (32 plans); 21 of those plans are itemized marker by marker. Compare all of them.
14 itemized panels do not include ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)
WHOOP Advanced Labs · Labcorp OnDemand · Life Extension Elite · Everlywell · InsideTracker · Marek Health Base · Marek Health Comprehensive · Marek Health Complete · Marek Health Executive · Blueprint · Empirical Health · Oura Health Panels · SiPhox Health · Ultrahuman Blood Vision Annual
11 providers not itemized in our matrix
We have not itemized these marker by marker (some sell tests one at a time), so this page cannot say whether they offer ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate). Check with them directly.
Life Extension Standard · Quest Health · Ultrahuman Blood Vision · Lifeforce · Hundred Health · Personalabs · Walk-In Lab · HealthLabs · WHOOP Specialized Panels · Marek Health Essential · Vitality Blueprint Upload
Experts discussing ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)
Podcast episodes where clinicians and researchers cover this marker in depth. Curated by hand; an episode is listed only when the marker is a substantial topic, not a passing mention.
- Healing Autoimmune Disease Using A Functional Medicine ApproachDisclosure: Hyman co-founded Function Health, which appears in our blood-test comparisons.
- #399 - Wisely Ordering Autoantibodies (ACP IM 2023)
- #147 - Rheumatoid Arthritis for the Internist
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the optimal range for ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)?
No separate optimal established: ESR rises with age, anemia and inflammation; interpret against age- and sex-adjusted lab limits. Lab reference interval: Men: <15 mm/hr under 50, <20 mm/hr over 50; Women: <20 mm/hr under 50, <30 mm/hr over 50 (MedlinePlus, Westergren). That is what a lab report flags against, not an optimal target.
Which blood test providers include ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)?
7 of the 21 blood testing panels we itemize marker by marker include ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) in their panels. This biomarker is widely available across major providers.
Related: YouBoost rates lifestyle and supplement interventions by evidence; HRV Zone tracks recovery trends.
Medical Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider about your specific health needs.
Last reviewed Sep 23, 2026 · First published Sep 30, 2025