The hematocrit test (hematocrit) or HCT is an important and practical test that provides valuable information about the state of the body to the doctor... By examining the HCT in the blood test, many diseases and health-related problems can be diagnosed.

In this article from GCORP LLC health magazine, we answer the question of what is hematocrit....we also talk about how to measure it in blood....stay with us until the end of this article to learn more about hematocrit and its importance.

What is hematocrit?

The hematocrit test shows how many percent of the blood volume is made up of red blood cells... Red blood cells are vital to health and are considered as the blood transportation system... Because they carry oxygen and nutrients to different parts of the body... So their decrease or increase can be a sign of disease.

Learn more: MCH in blood test

What is the HCT test for?

This test can be part of an annual checkup.. Also, if your doctor suspects that your red blood cell count is lower or higher than normal, he may order a blood test to measure HCT... This test can help diagnose a specific disease or determine how well your body has responded to a specific treatment.

A hematocrit test is done for a variety of reasons, but it is most often used to evaluate the following:

• anemia
• blood cancer
dehydration
• Malnutrition

If the doctor has ordered a CBC (complete blood cell count test), in addition to the HCT, other blood cells are also measured, including white blood cells and platelets..

How to prepare for HCT measurement in blood test?

The hematocrit test is a simple blood test that does not require special preparation....but depending on the other tests that the doctor prescribes along with it, you may need to fast for a few hours....so it is better to talk to your doctor about this.

How is the hematocrit or HCT test performed?

To determine the HCT level in a blood test, you need to go to a lab....the lab technician needs a small amount of blood to do this test....this blood can be taken from a fingertip scratch or from a vein in the arm.

If the hematocrit test is part of the CBC, the technician draws blood from a vein in the elbow or the back of the hand.. To do this, the technician cleans the surface of the skin with an antiseptic and wraps a rubber band or tourniquet around the arm.. Then inserts a needle or another needle into the vein.. Covers the bleeding with a bandage.

The blood test may be a little uncomfortable....for example, you may feel pain or bruising where the needle was inserted....these problems will go away within a few days....the HCT test only takes a few minutes and you can go back to your daily activities after it is done.

Learn more: RDW in blood test

How to evaluate the blood sample

The hematocrit level is evaluated in the laboratory using a centrifuge (a machine that spins at high speed to separate the contents of the blood)... To prevent blood clotting, the laboratory expert adds a special anticoagulant to the blood sample... When the test tube is removed from the centrifuge, its contents consist of three parts:

• Red blood cells
• Anticoagulant compounds
• Plasma or fluids in the blood

Each component is placed in a different part of the tube and red blood cells are transferred to the bottom of the tube. Then the amount of these cells is compared with the reference range to determine how much of the blood volume they make up.

Learn more: CBC Diff Test

What is the normal level of HCT in a blood test?

The normal range of hematocrit in a blood test depends on various factors such as race, age and gender.. It may also vary in different laboratories.. but in general, the following ranges can be considered normal:

• Adult men: between 3.38 and 6.48 percent
• Adult women: between 5.35 and 9.44 percent

For children under the age of 15, separate ranges are considered....because their hematocrit levels change rapidly with age....The laboratory that analyzes the results determines the normal range for the child's hematocrit based on his age.

Learn more: PLT in blood test

Accuracy of test results

Sometimes the HCT level is abnormal in a blood test... but you don't suffer from a specific disease... because some factors can affect the test result... these include:

• Living at altitude increases hematocrit.
• Pregnancy reduces the hematocrit level.
• Losing a large amount of blood causes a decrease in hematocrit.
• Blood transfusion may increase the hematocrit level.
• Severe dehydration is associated with an increase in hematocrit.

When interpreting the result of the hematocrit test, the doctor considers possible complicating factors.... If the test result contains contradictory or unexpected information, it is likely that the doctor will ask you to repeat the hematocrit test and perform other additional tests.

What is the cause of low hematocrit?

A low hematocrit level can be a sign of one of the following:

• Anemia (for various reasons, including insufficient intake of iron)
• Blood loss (due to injury or illness)
• Leukemia (blood cancer)
Hemolytic anemia
• Hyponatremia (a sign of excess water in the body)
Kidney disease
• thyroid disease

Learn more: PDW in blood test

What is the cause of high hematocrit?

The factors that may lead to an increase in HCT in the blood test are:

• Polycythemia vera (a disorder that causes the body to make too many red blood cells.)
• heart disease
dehydration
• Pulmonary problems
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Smoking
Carbon monoxide poisoning
• use of testosterone

Endword

In this article, we answered the question of what is the hematocrit or HCT test and what does it show...a decrease or increase of this index may be a sign of a serious medical illness...but sometimes it occurs for simpler reasons such as living at high altitudes or pregnancy.

You can visit the website GCORP LLC and consult with the best specialist doctors, including internists online... GCORP LLC also provides you with the possibility to make an appointment with the specialist you want through the online appointment system for internal specialists... You can also make an appointment with the general practitioner online or through the appointment system at See the doctor you want to see a general practitioner.

The general or internal medicine doctor interprets the result of your test according to your age and other conditions. The doctor explains the result to you and if you have a specific underlying disease, he starts the appropriate treatment for it. He may also refer you to other specialists, including a hematologist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources: mayoclinic, my.clevelandclinic