Edmund Faustinus Biernacki (1866-1911) was a Polish physician and philosopher of medicine. He described erythrocyte sedimentation, designed equipment to measure the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and applied it to clinical practice. His contribution to the development of one of the most commonly used medical laboratory tests is forgotten, and the test is attributed to other scientists.

It is generally believed that the erythrocyte sedimentation (E.S.R.) is retarded and tends to fall to normal when decompensation occurs in rheumatic fever and other heart diseases known to be associated with elevated values.2' 4, 5, 7. 9 Observations by McGinnis and co-workers,6 who excluded patients who presented evidence of other conditions known to lead to elevation of the E.S.R., however, d...

Dear Editor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a useful basic clinical pathology laboratory investigation. It can be helpful in diagnosis and follow-up of several diseases. At present, a new automated method with proven reliability is available for ESR test  (1). Here, the authors report on observation on a laboratory experiment to test the effect of zinc nanoparticles on ESR results. The...