What does hct stand for in a blood test

The definition of normal red-blood cell percentage also varies from one medical practice to another. Your hematocrit test provides just one piece of information about your health.

Talk to your doctor about what your hematocrit test result means in light of the symptoms you're experiencing and the results of other diagnostic tests. A number of factors can affect the outcome of a hematocrit test and yield inaccurate or misleading results, including:. Your doctor will take into account possible complicating factors when interpreting the results of your hematocrit test.

Your doctor may want to repeat the hematocrit test and do other blood tests if results provide conflicting or unexpected information. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Sections for Hematocrit test About. Overview A hematocrit he-MAT-uh-krit test measures the proportion of red blood cells in your blood. The hematocrit test, also known as a packed-cell volume PCV test, is a simple blood test. More Information Iron deficiency anemia. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic.

Blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, suspended in plasma. Hematocrit level is simply the percentage of red cells in your blood. Normal hematocrit levels vary based on age and race.. A hematocrit level below the normal range, meaning the person has too few red blood cells, is called anemia.

A hematocrit level above the normal range, meaning too many red blood cells, may indicate polycythemia or erythrocytosis. Your doctor may test your hematocrit levels if you show signs of having anemia, polycythemia or erythrocytosis.

Symptoms of anemia include fatigue, shortness of breath and dizziness. Symptoms of polycythemia include fatigue, itching, headaches, and sweating. Symptoms of erythrocytosis includes headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, and nosebleeds. The test measures by volume but is then expressed as a percentage. 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. 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. 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 your 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 being taken. A normal hematocrit level for women is For men, a normal range is The normal numbers vary a little from lab to lab. Hematocrit tests are generally pretty accurate. Test results help doctors diagnose their patients with the right health condition so they can give appropriate treatment.

Here are some factors that commonly cause abnormally high or low hematocrit levels:. If your doctor feels that your hematocrit levels may have been affected by something like dehydration, they may ask you to take the test again at a different time.