Hematocrit

Packed cell volume is also known as?

Hematocrit

is an expression of the percentage of the whole blood occupied by RBCs

Hematocrit/PCV

PCV can be performed with either a?

microhematocrit or microhematocrit technique.

What is mHct?

microhematocrit method

is the most commonly performed PCV test in veterinary practice

microhematocrit method

A low PCV may indicate?

Anemia

For microhematocrit method, a blood-filled capillary tube is centrifuged for?

2 to 5 minutes, depending on the type of centrifuge

The blood separates into a?

Plasma layer

Layers of the blood after centrifuge

• Top: Plasma (clear, yellowish)

• Middle: Buffy Coat - WBC + Platelets

• Bottom: Packed RBC

percentage of RBC volume in whole blood

PCV

The precision of a PCV is approximately ___, making it a very accurate test.

1%

Causes of Anemia

• Blood loss

• Neoplasia

• Parasitism

• Chronic Infection

An increased PCV also has several possible causes including?

• dehydration

• splenic contraction in an excited animal.

PCV values may be erroneously high because of?

• clots in the sample

• failure to adequately mix the EDTA and blood

• insufficient centrifugation time.

determines the percentage of red blood cells (RBC's) in the blood

hematocrit blood test

Blood is composed mainly of?

RBC and WBC

Blood is composed mainly of red blood cells and white blood cells suspended in an almost clear fluid called?

Serum

It indicates the percentage of blood by volume that is composed of red blood cells

Hematocrit test

The hematocrit is a basic test that can tell a physician a lot about?

a person’s health

A ________ means the percentage of red blood cells is below the lower limits of normal for that person's age, sex, or specific condition

low hematocrit

Another term for low hematocrit is?

Anemia

Causes of low hematocrit, or anemia, include:

• Bleeding

• Destruction of RBC

• Decreased production of RBC

• Nutritional problems

means the percentage of red blood cells in a person's blood is above the upper limits of normal for that person's age, sex, or specific condition

high hematocrit

Causes of a high hematocrit include:

• Dehydration

• Low availability of oxygen

• Genetic

• Erythrocytosis

• Cor pulmonale

over-production of red blood cells by the bone marrow is known as?

polycythemia vera

speed of the centrifuge

Speed: 10,000 rpm; Time: 5 minutes

To estimate the hemoglobin (Hgb) value of the patient, whats the formula?

divide the PCV reading by 3