Comparison of TEST 1 with SRS 100 and ICSH reference method for the measurement of the length of sedimentation reaction in blood

Abstract

We evaluated the measurement of length of sedimentation reaction in blood (LSRB) by TEST 1 and compared the results with those for the Westergren and Sed Rate Screener 100 (SRS 100) methods. LSRB was measured in 113 paired blood samples. TEST 1 correlated significantly with the Westergren (r=0.94) and SRS 100 (r=0.90) methods with low bias (-0.29 and -1.92 mm/h, respectively) and limits of agreement (-14.5 to 13.9, and -23.4 to 19.6 mm/h, respectively). Hematocrit (Htc) correlated negatively with LSRB in TEST 1 (r=-0.54) and SRS 100 (r=-0.53) only in samples with high Htc (>/=35%). The bias and limits of agreement between TEST 1 and Westergren in samples with low (-1.46 and -22.3 to 19.3 mm/h) and high (0.43 and -7.29 to 8.14 mm/h) Htc were comparable to those between SRS 100 and Westergren (1.83 and -27.2 to 30.9 mm/h for low, 0.71 and -7.27 to 8.70 mm/h for high Htc samples). Total protein and fibrinogen correlated similarly with LSRB in both TEST 1 (r=0.23 and 0.48, respectively) and SRS 100 (r=0.30 and 0.51, respectively). The findings suggested that TEST 1 is a reliable, precise and accurate system for measurement of LSRB in clinical laboratories with high workload.