Free AAMA Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Practice Question

The correct answer is false. While the total number of red blood cells can have an impact on the sedimentation rate, ESR is primarily influenced by the composition of plasma proteins, particularly fibrinogen. The presence of inflammation leads to an increase in fibrinogen, which causes red blood cells to form stacks, known as rouleaux, that settle more quickly in the test tube. Other factors, such as the size, shape, and density of the red blood cells, as well as the viscosity of the plasma, can also affect ESR results. Consequently, ESR is not solely determined by the red blood cell count.