hematocrit
The hematocrit blood test determines the percentage of red blood cells (RBC's) in the blood.
a hematocrit of 25% means that there are 25 milliliters of red blood cells in 100 milliliters of blood.
Normal results vary, but in general,they are:
Male: 40.7% to 50.3%
Female: 36.1% to 44.3%
test measures the proportion of red blood cells in your blood. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body.
Identify and evaluate the severity of anemia (low RBCs, low hemoglobin, low hematocrit) or polycythemia (high RBCs, high hemoglobin, high hematocrit)
you may also need your hematocrit checked before having surgery or if your healthcare provider suspects you have a red blood cell disorder.An insufficient supply of healthy red blood cells (anemia)
A large number of white blood cells due to long-term illness, infection or a white blood cell disorder such as leukemia or lymphoma
Vitamin or mineral deficiencies
Recent or long-term blood loss
There are several broad categories of blood cells, including red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. Generally, leukemia refers to cancers of the WBCs.
The Types of Leukemia:Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
Not bad, but the normal value varies from institution to institution. Also it is very important for many RBC diseases to know the cell size. For example in a macrocytic anemia (mean RBC cell size >>7μm) you have a low RBC count, a low Hb but you can have a normal Ht. Many doctors stare blind on Ht and Hb values and take wrong conclusions. Thats why it is important to spend that few extra bucks on a total blood investigation. You've forgotten to mention there is a fourth type of leukemia which is the most abundant of them all; Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia (CLL).
Thanks for useful comment doctor
The "average" hematocrit is 45% for men. Less than 40% Hematocrit (HCT) or 13.9% hemoglobin is ANEMIA BY DEFINITION.
So what is 40% or 41% hematocrit? It is very close to what somebody decided should be called "anemia".
Seen another way, 40% HCT means the person has about 10% LESS oxygen circulating in his blood stream than the "Average" or about 20% less than those who have 50% HCT.
Most doctors are happy if their patient is in the "normal range" but speaking of hematocrit, a "low" hematocrit (or "anemia") will cause many degenerative diseases. Since the lack of oxygen does not "hurt" the "doctor" does not feel it is serious. But I think it is serious.
Hematocrit starts to fall about 1/4 of 1% every year after age 50... It is too little to notice, from year to year, but by age 70, twenty years of a 1/4% drop means that old person has less oxygen, so of course he is slower and feels more tired. After age 70, hematocrit drops about 1/2% per year in many men.
And WHO SAYS that because it is "normal" for women to have lower hematocrit than men, that this is "good"? If a woman has higher hematocrit, her brain receives more oxygen and she feels better. I say that I hope that a woman President has enough oxygen flowing through her veins so that HER BRAIN is making good decisions!
For your information, my hematocrit is between 50% and 55%, hemoglobin about 17% to 18%... and I have kept it there for more than 10 years.
And now, we will hear from doctors telling me that I will die of a heart attack soon. I won't die of a heart attack soon. Hematocrit in La Paz, Bolivia (altitude between 4000 and 4500 meters in the city, and higher in the nearby mountains) is in the upper 50's and lower 60's and nobody is worried about that. Helicopter pilots have hematocrit 55%. So I am not worried about my hematocrit.
Hematocrit also give the result of platelets composed of 90% water and clotting factors
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