Hematocrit Test

A test that indicates whether you have too few or too many red blood cells is called hematocrit test (Hct). A hematocrit is the proportion of your total blood volume that is composed of red blood cells.

The one that transports the oxygen are the red blood cells. A sample of your blood is the one that they need and the technician will put the sample in a centrifuge device that spins the blood.

This will separate your blood into three parts: plasma, red blood cells, and other blood cells. This test is also called packed cell volume (PCV).

Here are the most common reasons to undergo a hematocrit test.

This test is part of CBC. This test may help your doctor make a diagnosis or monitor your response to a certain treatment.

A lower than normal hematocrit indicates:

• mineral or vitamin deficiencies
• an insufficient supply of healthy red blood cells
• a large number of white blood cells due to infection
• long-term illness or other disorders
• recent or long-term blood loss

A higher than normal may indicate:

• dehydration
• lung or heart disease if there are low oxygen levels
• a disorder such as polycythemia vera that can cause your body to produce too many red blood cells

Hematocrit test does not have any potential risks or complications. You may have a small bleeding at the puncture site.

A hematocrit test is a simple blood test and requires no preparations, there are no restrictions on taking this procedure.

Here you can find out what to expect from your hematocrit test.

Your finger will be pricked or a needle will be inserted into a vein in your arm to collect a blood by a nurse or a medical assistant.

You may be able to feel tenderness at first but you can return to your normal activities after this procedure.

Understanding the results of your hematocrit test will be made possible by your doctor.

The normal range is 38.8 to 50 percent for men and 34.9 to 44.5 for women. The normal range for children 15 years of age and younger varies by age and sex.

The results are reported as the percentage of blood cells that are red blood cells. Consult your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms and about the results of other diagnostic tests.

A number of conditions can affect the outcome of a hematocrit test and yield inaccurate or misleading results.

The complications include:

• pregnancy
• living at a high altitude
• severe dehydration
• significant recent blood loss
• recent blood transfusion

Your doctor will take into account this complications ad if the results provide unexpected information he may suggest to repeat the procedure.