Boston: What is the Hematocrit Blood Test?

Boston,

Hematocrit blood test is usually part of the routine complete blood count (CBC) test. This test measures the percentage of red blood cells (RBC) in the blood. Hematocrit is also known as the erythrocyte volume fraction (EVF) and packed cell volume (PCV).

To perform such test, blood sample is extracted from the vein in the upper extremity, usually in the forearm. Blood is drawn either by a needle or through fingerprick. The fingerprick technique is commonly used for infants and young children. The extracted blood sample is then brought to the laboratory for analysis.

The normal range for hematocrit may slightly differ among laboratories. However, the range is estimated to be between 40.7% to 50.3% for males and 36.1% to 44.3% in females. For newborn babies, the range is about 55% to 68% while for a one year baby; the value is estimated to be 29% to 41%.

Here is a basic interpretation of a hematocrit blood test. This interpretation is not intended to replace the explanation of qualified medical personnel. It just serves as a simple guide for non-medical people. If you have a low level of hematocrit, you may have anemia. Other conditions that could also result in low hematocrit level include recent bleeding, leukemia, cirrhosis of the liver, multiple myeloma, rheumatoid arthritis, and deficiency in vitamins such as iron, folate and B12. Dehydration is the most common reason why hematocrit is increased in the blood. This high hematocrit level returns to normal with sufficient fluid intake. Other causes of increased hematocrit level include erythrocytosis, hypoxia and polycythemia vera.

There are other factors that may affect hematocrit level. If you are pregnant, you may have low level because your unborn baby needs lots of iron. Also, if you are living in a high altitude place, your hematocrit could be increased. This is due to your body’s reaction to the decreased oxygen supply in high altitude locations. It was also observed that chronic smokers have higher hematocrit levels.

Source by Jessica Watson

What is the Hematocrit Blood Test?