DIN EN ISO 13079:2011-10

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) measures stability of suspension of red blood cells in plasma. It is a routine method which is widely applied as screening method for examination and monitoring of patients with infections, inflammations and certain other symptoms. Basically sedimentation of red blood cells is measured after one hour in diluted blood with an open top glass or plastic tube which is 300 mm long; the tube is graduated on a length of 200 mm and stands upright in a support. The standard specifies requirements for materials, design and construction of re-usable and single-use of glass or plastic Westergren tubes. Dimensions and dimension ranges for Westergren tubes are laid down and it is described how stability and straightness shall be determined. Another specification deals with contamination of tubes with substances which could effect measurement. Standard DIN EN ISO 13079 is a product standard which is primarily directed at Westergren tube manufacturers. The corresponding test method for the users in the medical laboratories is described in specialist literature and in DIN 58935-1. The International and European Standard was prepared upon a proposal put forward by Great Britain at ISO/TC 48 "Laboratory equipment" and CEN/TC 332 "Laboratory equipment". The responsible German Mirror Committee is AA "Glasgeräte und Apparate" ("Glassware and glass apparatus") of FNLa. DIN EN ISO 13179 replaces the older national standard DIN 12845:1972.