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Hematocrit (HCT) or Packed Cell Volume (PCV)
Hematocrit or packed cell volume (PCV) - is the fraction of whole
blood volume that consists of red blood cells.
Technique
After centrifugation, the height of the red cell column is measured
and compared to the total height of the column of whole blood. The
percentage of the total blood volume occupied by the red cell mass is
the hematocrit. Hematocrit depends mostly on the number of RBCs but
there is some effect (to a much lower extent) from the average size of
the RBCs.
Reference values
Reference values are 42-52% for males and 36-48% for
females. The hematocrit is usually about 3 times the hemoglobin value
(assuming there is not marked hypochromia). The average error in
hematocrit is about 1-2%. The hematocrit may be changed by altitude,
position, and heavy smoking, in the same manner as the hemoglobin may
be changed.
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