{"id":9622,"date":"2020-05-01T13:00:23","date_gmt":"2020-05-01T17:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=9622"},"modified":"2024-12-20T12:09:17","modified_gmt":"2024-12-20T17:09:17","slug":"hematocrit-levels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/hematocrit-levels\/","title":{"rendered":"What do your hematocrit test results mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is a hematocrit test<\/a> | Normal hematocrit levels<\/a> | Low hematocrit levels<\/a> | High hematocrit levels<\/a> |<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re showing signs of being anemic (which could include fatigue, grumpiness, headaches, or heavy menstrual cycles), your doctor might want to do bloodwork. A hematocrit test is a type of blood test that can detect <\/span>anemia<\/span><\/a> and other health conditions, which will help your healthcare provider to properly diagnose and treat you.\u00a0This article describes what hematocrit tests are and helps explain what your hematocrit levels mean.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What is a hematocrit test?<\/h2>\n

Hematocrit is a measurement of the size and number of red blood cells that someone has. Everyone\u2019s blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The hematocrit (hct) is a measurement of how much of someone\u2019s blood is made up of red blood cells. The test measures by volume but is then expressed as a percentage. If a person has a hematocrit of 40%, this means that he or she has 40 milliliters of red blood cells in 100 milliliters of blood.<\/span><\/p>\n

Doctors will ask someone to get a hematocrit test as part of a complete blood count (CBC) to see how well they\u2019re responding to a certain treatment and\/or to see if they have any underlying health problems. Hematocrit helps measure <\/span>hemoglobin<\/span><\/a>, which is what\u2019s found in oxygen-carrying red blood cells. It\u2019s important because the body can\u2019t get enough oxygen to function properly without it, says <\/span>Susan Besser<\/span><\/a>, MD<\/span>,<\/span><\/a> a family practitioner at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why are hematocrit levels important?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Hematocrit tests can tell doctors if someone is anemic, which is one of the most common reasons for ordering the test. Symptoms of anemia include tiredness, grumpiness, heavy menstrual periods, cold hands and feet, and poor concentration. Your doctor may ask you to get a hematocrit test done if you have any of those symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hematocrit tests, which are sometimes called packed cell volume tests (PCV), can also help tell doctors whether someone has other nutritional deficiencies or health problems such as leukemia, kidney disease, or arthritis. Hematocrit tests are important because they measure how many red blood cells someone has. Too many or too few red blood cells can indicate certain nutritional deficiencies or diseases that doctors will know how to identify.<\/span><\/p>\n

What to expect during a hematocrit test<\/span><\/h3>\n

During a hematocrit test, you can expect to have a sample of blood taken by a phlebotomist or another healthcare professional who can draw blood. Getting blood drawn can be uncomfortable, but most people only feel a light prick when the needle inserts the vein. If you need to have a hematocrit test done and know that you might get lightheaded, you can always ask to lie down while your blood sample is taken.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to prepare for a hematocrit test<\/span><\/h3>\n

There are no special preparations needed prior to drawing a blood sample for just a hematocrit test. If your healthcare provider has ordered additional blood tests you may need to avoid eating or drinking for several hours before the test. Your provider will let you know if there are any special instructions you need to follow.<\/span><\/p>\n

Risks of a hematocrit test<\/span><\/h3>\n

As with most blood tests, there is very little risk to having a hematocrit test. You may experience slight pain, bleeding, or bruising at the spot where the needle was inserted, but most symptoms resolve quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a normal hematocrit level?<\/h2>\n

The average healthy adult should have a normal hematocrit level that ranges between 35% to 50%. A normal hematocrit level for <\/span>women<\/span><\/a> is 36% to 44%. For <\/span>men<\/span><\/a>, a normal range is 41% to 50%. The normal numbers vary a little from lab to lab. This means the average adult female\u2019s total blood volume should consist of 36% to 44% red blood cells, and the average adult male\u2019s blood should be 40% to 50% red cells. Depending on their age, normal values for <\/span>children<\/span><\/a> range between 30% to 44%.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hematocrit tests are generally pretty accurate. Test results help doctors diagnose their patients with the right health condition so they can give appropriate treatment. It\u2019s possible for certain things to cause a hematocrit test to give inaccurate results though. Here are some factors that commonly cause abnormally high or low hematocrit levels:<\/span><\/p>\n