Tsegaye, Aster (PhD)Tsegaye, Dawit2018-06-272023-11-062018-06-272023-11-062017-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/4258Background: - Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is still a widely used hematological parameter as indicator of disease condition. Westergren method is the standard method based on International committee for Standardization in Hematology (ICSH) recommendation for measuring ESR. But nowadays different automated instruments are available with reduced turnaround time, which increase the quality by reducing bio-hazard risk for the laboratory professionals. However, there is no method comparison study conducted in Ethiopia and still the old method is used in many health facilities. Objective: -Evaluation of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate measurement by IRIA automated method and Westergren manual method at Myungsung Christian Medical Center, Addis Ababa. Method: -A prospective cross sectional study was conducted at Myungsung Christian Medical Center from February to May 2017 GC. By doubling the ISCH recommendation the samples were tested in 3 different groups of values and the total sample size was 240. Every ESR ordered sample was analyzed using both manual and automated methods. Result was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Linear regression, correlation and Bland Altman analysis were carried out to determine agreement between the reference and the new method was carried out. Agreement was considered acceptable when the difference is lying between mean + two standard deviation (Mean+1.96SD) for 95% and above of cases in the Bland and Altman plot. Result: The comparison between the conventional Westergren and IRIA automated method showed very good correlation in the two methods and agree well for ESR level between 1-20 mm/hr with r=0.934, Mean bias 0.663, SD 2.629,LoA(5.815, -4.490), and ESR level between 21- 60 mm/hr r=0.917, Mean bias 0.1875, SD 3.7924 LoA (7.621,-7.246). However, for ESR level greater than 60, it showed good correlation r=0.890 but poor agreement in the Bland-Altman analysis as the mean difference is lying between the limit of agreement for less than 95% of cases Mean difference 1.388, SD 11.346,LoA (23.625,-20.849). Conclusion: For ESR level below 60 mm/hr, the two instruments can be used interchangeably. However, for ESR level greater than 60mm/hr the result of the automated machine must be confirmed with the conventional westergren method before using it for clinical propose. Key words: - Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Westergren, IRIA, ESR automatedenErythrocyte Sedimentation RateWestergren, IRIA, ESR automatedThesis