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Blood test for hematocrit: what is the essence of the study?
A complete blood count is the most common clinical study, widely used in the diagnosis of most diseases, and it plays a key role in the diagnosis of diseases of the hematopoietic system. Changes in the blood reflect the processes taking place throughout the body.
One of the indicators of a complete blood count is hematocrit. It shows the volume ratio of erythrocytes to blood plasma, is expressed as a percentage and is designated hct (hematocrit). In fact, it reflects the concentration of formed elements in the blood, the viscosity of the blood. The hematocrit value cannot be assessed after profuse blood loss or blood transfusion (transfusion), since in this case falsely overestimated or underestimated results can be obtained.
With anemia, the hematocrit level can drop to 25-15%
What are the reference (normal) hematocrit values for people of different ages
The norm of hematocrit (in%) is:
- 41-65 for newborns less than 2 weeks of life
- 33–55 for babies from 2 weeks to 1 month
- 28-42 for babies from 1 to 2 months
- 32–44 for babies from 2 to 4 months
- 31–41 for babies from 4 to 6 months
- 32-40 for children from 6 to 9 months
- 33-41 for children from 9 to 12 months
- 32-40 for children from 1 to 3 years old
- 32-42 for children from 3 to 6 years old
- 33-41 for children from 6 to 9 years old
- 34–44 for girls 12–15 years old
- 35–45 for boys 12–15 years old
- 34–44 for girls 15–18 years old
- 37–48 for boys 15–18 years old
- 35–45 for women 18–45 years old
- 39–49 for men 18–45 years old
- 35–47 for women 45–65 years old
- 39–50 for men 45–65 years old
- 35–47 for women over 65
- 37-51 for men over 65
Physiological blood loss of girls and women reduces the hematocrit rate for them in comparison with the same indicators for males
What does an increase in hematocrit say?
An increase in hematocrit may indicate:
- primary erythrocytosis
- secondary erythrocytosis (due to respiratory failure, congenital heart defects, etc.)
- a decrease in the volume of circulating plasma, i.e. thickening of the blood (for burns, peritonitis, hypoxia, leukemia, polycystic, renal hydronephrosis, etc.)
- dehydration of the body (as a result of severe diarrhea, vomiting, excessive sweating or diabetes)
What is erythrocytosis and why does it occur
Erythrocytosis is an increase in the level of red blood cells in the blood. Erythrocytosis can be absolute, due to increased production of red blood cells, or relative.
Possible causes of relative erythrocytosis include:
- dehydration
- stress (associated with the release of adrenaline)
- alcoholism
- smoking
- systemic hypertension
When there is a decreased hematocrit
Decreased hematocrit is observed with various forms of anemia and with an increase in total circulating blood volume (for example, in the second half of pregnancy).
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