HAEMATOCRIT (PACKED CELL VOLUME)

Description

Adult male:

  • 46% (40-50%)

Adult female:

  • 42% (37-47)

Clinical significance

  • Haematocrit literally means blood separation. It Measures the percentage of volume of packed red cells. Haematocrit is a ratio of the volume of red blood cells to the volume of whole blood. The value is expressed as percentage or fraction
  • It is also known as ‘’Packed Cell Volume” and is a reliable index of the red cell population in the blood. Used in the detection and classification of various types of anemias along with other parameters (hemoglobin and red cell count) of red cell indices
  • It is a reasonable index of red cell population or Hb content of blood .Therefore It is used to detect conditions in which red cell count increases (polycythemia) or decreases (anemia).The haematocrit measurement is more useful and reliable than the red cell count performed manually because of the less error associated with it.
  • The value of haematocrit is used in determination of blood indices, especially MCV (mean corpuscular volume)and MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration). Blood indices help in the diagnosis and classification of various types of anemia.
  • It is one of the important factors that determine viscosity of blood. Increase in PCV increases blood viscosity, as in polycythemia. This increases peripheral resistance, which in turn decreases cardiac output because the after load on the heart increases. Conversely decrease in PCV as seen in anemia, decreases the peripheral resistance that increases the cardiac output. This also makes circulation hyper dynamic.

When to get tested

  • As a part of Complete Blood count
  • When there is s/s of anemia (weakness or fatigue, Lack of energy, fainting, pallor, shortness of breath, irregular heart beat)
  • When there is s/s of Polycythemia (Disturbed vision, dizziness, headache, flushing, enlarged spleen)
  • When there is s/s of dehydration (extreme thirst, dry mouth or mucous membrane, and lack of sweating or urination)

Elevated level

Physiological

  • High altitude (due to hypoxia)
  • Newborns and infants
  • Excessive sweating (due to haemo concentration)

Pathological

  • Hypoxia e.g. congenital heart disease and emphysema
  • Polycythemia
  • Conditions in which there is haemo concentration e.g. severe vomiting and diarrhoea (due to dehydration )

Decreased level

Physiological

  • Pregnancy (due to haemo dilution)
  • Excess water intake
  • sex predilection (lower in women )

Pathological

  • Various types of anemia
  • Conditions in which there is haemo dilution and expansion of plasma volume e.g. hyper aldrosteronism

Profile

Complete Blood Count

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