Overview
The haematocrit, also known as the packed cell volume (PCV), is the volume of red blood cells as a percentage of total blood volume.
This value is often calculated by an automatic analyser based on the red cell count and mean cell volume (MCV).
Normal Range
- Males: 40 - 54%
- Females: 36 - 44%
Interpretation
- Reduced haematocrit / PCV - suggests anaemia
- Elevated haematocrit / PCV - suggests erythrocytosis
Haematocrit or Haemoglobin?
Haematocrit and haemoglobin values are often used interchangeably. The haematocrit : haemoglobin ratio is often stable and usually approximately 0.3.
Serum haemoglobin concentration is a better marker of anaemia because it more directly reflects the blood's ability to transport oxygen.
Discrepancies in the haematocrit : haemoglobin ratio occur most commonly in the presence of abnormal red blood cell morphology, and the blood smear should be examined when this is the case.
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