Hematocrit (Haematocrit)

Hematocrit is the total volume of red blood cells in the blood.

Hematocrit shows the percentage of red blood cell volume to total blood volume. Normal hematocrit values ​​are:

1. for men - 40-50%
2. in women - 36-46%

An increased hematocrit (more than 50% in men and 46% in women) is called erythrocytosis. This may be a sign of dehydration, lung or heart disease.

A low hematocrit (less than 40% in men and 36% in women) is called anemia. The reasons for a decrease in hematocrit may be blood loss, hematopoietic disorders, and genetic diseases.

Determination of hematocrit is a simple and informative blood test. It allows you to identify anemia, erythrocytosis and other diseases of the blood system.

Hematocrit is one of the main blood indicators, which reflects the total number of red blood cells in the blood and their volume. It is also known as hematocrit (Hct) and hematocrit (Ht). Hematocrit is considered an important indicator because it can indicate the presence of various diseases such as anemia, kidney disease, liver disease and other inflammatory processes.

Hematocrit is determined by measuring the volume of blood and the number of red blood cells in it. Hematocrit is usually measured as a percentage and can be determined using a blood test.

A low hematocrit may indicate anemia, which can be caused by various reasons such as deficiency of iron, vitamin B12, folic acid or blood loss. A high hematocrit, on the contrary, may indicate dehydration, as well as certain kidney and liver diseases.

In addition, hematocrit is used to evaluate the effectiveness of blood transfusions and to monitor the treatment of patients with blood disorders. Thus, hematocrit determination can be an important tool in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases.

Hematocrit is an indicator that determines the percentage of the volume of red blood cells to the total volume of blood. These bodies carry oxygen throughout the body, participate in blood clotting processes, and support the immune system. Reducing their volume reduces the amount of oxygen delivered to organs and tissues, which, in turn, negatively affects overall well-being. The normal value of the indicator is considered to be in the range from 34.7% to 51.0%, but as you get older it gradually decreases. For newborns, the norm ranges from 43% to 65%. Similar values ​​for adults and older people range from 28% to 47%. Basically, venous blood is sent to determine hematocrit, but in some cases capillary blood is also taken - for example, in the presence of diseases of the cardiovascular system. In the total volume of blood, the haematocrit fraction of hemoglobin ranges from 0.42 to 0.61% for an adult and from 1.25% to 2.5% in a newborn. In different counting systems, this indicator varies due to different options for dividing the volume of distribution of blood cell macromolecules over the volume of biological fluid. Thus, the volume of red blood cells is the volume of part of the blood saturated with red blood cells. Only medical specialists have the right to measure this indicator, since this can cause significant harm to the patient’s health, and a qualified doctor must prescribe the analysis.