Hematocrit HCT Blood Test

There are several standard ways to measure red blood cells: hematocrit, hemoglobin, and RBC (red blood cell count). All of these are related, and doctors will usually look at two or more.

The hematocrit or hct blood test measures the percentage of red blood cells (erythrocytes) in your blood. It is often used to measureyour overall health and to check for conditions such as anemia (low red blood cell count), dehydration, and certain types of cancer. The test is usually done as part of a complete blood count (CBC), a routine blood test that measures the number and types of cells in your blood.

Hematocrit is the volume measurement, i.e., the percentage of blood taken up by the red blood cells. On the other hand, Hemoglobin is a density or concentration measurement expressed in grams per liter or deciliter. (Hemoglobin is if you will recall from your high school biology, the iron-based protein that transports oxygen.) RBC is a simple count and is usually expressed as the number of million red blood cells that you have per microliter. Usually, hematocrit is three times the amount of hemoglobin.

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) increases hematocrit in most men.  Read more about how to decrease hematocrit.

NOTE: Hematocrit is also part of the CBC panel, so no need to order separately if your order already includes CBC.

High Hematocrit: the Main Side Effect of Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is one of the most effective ways to combat low testosterone levels, but it’s vital that you understand the risks associated with the treatment. As with any form of hormone replacement therapy, there are a few downsides to receiving regular injections of testosterone. But do these risks outweigh the benefits? That’s a decision you’ll have to make for yourself!

Note: Remember the purpose of TRT: to restore testosterone to NORMAL, healthy levels in the body. Ideally, testosterone levels should be normal after TRT. Even at normal levels, there is a risk of side effects.

One of the primary risks of testosterone that is you need to be aware of is called polycythemia. This is a condition where your body produces too many red blood cells, also known as high hematocrit level. Hematocrit refers to the red blood cell content in your blood. If your hematocrit levels rise, your blood will become too thick or viscous. This can, in turn, make it more likely that you will develop strokes, heart attacks, and clotting events. Polycythemia is serious and potentially life-threatening if untreated.

What are the symptoms of high hematocrit?

In recent years, there has been an increased association between TRT and polycythemia. With TRT becoming a more mainstream treatment, more people are experiencing the symptoms of polycythemia, which include:

• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Itching
• redness of the skin
• bruising
• joint pain
• dizziness
• abdominal pain
• shortness of breath
• breathing difficulty when you lie down
• numbness, tingling, or burning in the hands, feet, arms or legs
• Turning very red or “flushing” after workout

When polycythemia occurs, the blood becomes very thick. But instead of being able to carry MORE oxygen, the increase of red blood cells can be dangerous. The risk of clotting increases as a result of the red blood cell count increase.

Note: While there is a risk of hematocrit increase, there is no proof that TRT increases the risk of clotting events. It’s vital to be aware of the potential risk, so doctors need to be careful when prescribing TRT to men with high hematocrit levels, red blood cell disorders, and obstructive pulmonary disease. All of these things increase the risk of clotting events as a result of the hematocrit increase caused by TRT.

What are factors that increase the risks of high hct blood test ?

There are a number of factors that can increase your risk of developing this problem. According to Dr. Michael Scally, polycythemia “occurs quite frequently in people who are on replacement testosterone.”

Age also plays a role in your polycythemia risk. Young men are far less likely to experience this problem than older men.

The mode of delivery and the dose of testosterone affect the increase in your hematocrit levels. Men who receive formulations of pharmacokinetically steady-state delivery hormones are far less likely to develop the problem than men who receive intramuscular injections of testosterone.

Topical preparations only cause the problem in up to 20% of cases. 5 to 15% of those who use testosterone patches develop polycythemia, while 10 to 20% of those using the testosterone gel develop the problem. Of course, the amount of testosterone delivered per day (50 to 100 milligrams) also affects the risk of developing polycythemia. Testosterone injections may increase hematocrit more than gels, patches, pellets, nasal or oral testosterone formulations.  Smaller injection doses given more frequently may increase hematocrit less rapidly than larger dose injections, but data are lacking to prove that fact.

Men with sleep apnea or those who smoke are at the highest risk of high hematocrit since their bodies are trying to compensate for the decreased oxygen level by producing more red blood cells.   TRT enhances that red blood cell production.

So what can you do about the problem? Is there any way to manage it?

Those undergoing TRT must be aware that polycythemia is a real risk, as do their doctors. They must keep a close eye on their hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. If hematocrit rises above 52%, further examinations may be necessary.

Some doctors counsel reducing or stopping testosterone treatment. However, for those who are undergoing TRT as a means of restoring healthy hormone levels, this may not be an option. Some means of managing and reducing the risk of high hematocrit levels include:

• Scaling back on the testosterone gel delivered daily(50mg or less) or injection dose.
• Changing the method of administration (using more frequent injections with smaller doses, or using a testosterone gel or cream)
• Make sure that you are hydrated when you get your blood drawn for lab tests
• Stopping smoking
• Getting sleep apnea diagnosed and treated with a CPAP machine to enhance oxygen saturation levels when sleeping.

If these options do not work, a therapeutic phlebotomy (blood donation) may be the answer. Removing just one unit of blood can help to lower hematocrit by as much as 3%. For those with very high hematocrit levels, the therapy may continue for months, gradually reducing hematocrit to safe levels over time. Some physicians even prescribe regular phlebotomies (no more frequently that every 56 days is the safe frequency to avoid iron loss) as a means of preventing overly high hematocrit levels.

While phlebotomies are not covered by your insurance, they can be performed at any blood bank. Even if your insurance company won’t cover the cost, you can solve the problem by donating blood (provided you are free of hepatitis, HIV, and other blood-borne infections). Experts agree that donating every 2.5 to 3 months is safe, and it’s a good way to keep your hematocrit levels under control. It is important to note that hematocrit can stabilize in men on longer term TRT, so many men do not have to donate blood after a few months on TRT.

Warning: Donating more than 1 unit of blood more frequently than every 2.5 months can lower your iron and ferritin levels. This can cause fatigue. Make sure to replace the lost iron with a supplement in order to prevent anemia.

You can check your iron and ferritin with this iron blood test.

It’s recommended that you donate when you are in the 51-52% hematocrit range. However, some organizations (like the Red Cross) will reject blood with a hematocrit higher than 53%, so it is good to avoid that hematocrit high level if you want to donate blood.

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Complete Blood Count with Differential

Does this test have other names?

CBC w/ diff

What is this test?

This panel of tests looks for many illnesses in your blood. These include anemia,
infections, and leukemia. It can help see how your overall health is.

The test gets a lot of information from your blood sample:

• The number and types of white blood cells (WBCs). Your
  body has 5 types of white blood cells. All play a role in fighting infections.
  High numbers of WBCs, or of a specific type of WBC, may mean you have an infection
  or inflammation somewhere in your body. Low numbers of WBCs may mean you are at
  risk for infections.

• The number of red blood cells (RBCs). RBCs carry oxygen
  throughout the body and remove excess carbon dioxide. Too few RBCs may be a sign
  of anemia or other diseases. In rare cases, too many may cause problems with blood
  flow.

• How the size of your red blood cells varies. This test
  is known as red cell distribution width (RDW, RDW-CV, or RDW-SD). For instance,
  you may have greater differences in red blood cell size if you have anemia.

• Hematocrit (HCT). This means the portion of red blood
  cells in a certain amount of whole blood. A low hematocrit may be a sign of too
  much bleeding. Or it might mean that you have an iron deficiency or other
  disorders. A higher than normal hematocrit can be caused by dehydration or other
  disorders.

• Hemoglobin (Hgb, Hb). Hemoglobin is a protein in red
  blood cells. It carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of the body.
  Abnormalities can be a sign of problems ranging from anemia to lung disease.

• The average size of your red blood cells. This test is
  known as mean corpuscular volume (MCV). MCV goes up when your red blood cells are
  bigger than normal. This happens if you have anemia caused by low vitamin B-12 or
  folate levels. If your red blood cells are smaller, this can mean other types of
  anemia, such as iron deficiency anemia.

• A platelet (PLT) count. Platelets are cell fragments
  that play a role in blood clotting. Too few platelets may mean you have a higher
  risk of bleeding. Too many may mean a number of possible conditions.

• Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH). This test measures
  how much hemoglobin your red blood cells have.

Why do I need this test?

You may need this test if your healthcare provider thinks you have a blood disorder.
You may need this test if you have:

• Unusual bleeding or bruising

• Infection or inflammation

• Weakness and tiredness that
  doesn’t go away. These may be symptoms of anemia.

You may also have this test if your healthcare provider thinks you may have a certain
disease or condition. Or you may have this test as part of a routine exam to check
your health. The test may also be used to see how well certain treatments are working.

What other tests might I have along with this test?

Your healthcare provider may also order other tests if your results for this test
are abnormal. These may include other blood tests, urine tests, and bone marrow or
spinal fluid tests.

What do my test results mean?

Test results may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, and other things.
Your test results may be different depending on the lab used. They may not mean you
have
a problem. Ask your healthcare provider what your test results mean for you.

Normal ranges for the different
parts of a CBC are:

• Red blood cells (RBC): 3.8 to
  5.69 million per cubic millimeter (million/mm3)

• Red blood cell distribution width (RDW, RDW-CV, RDW-SD): 11.4%
  to 13.5%

• White blood cells (WBC): 3.8
  to 10.4 thousand per cubic millimeter (thousand/mm3)

• Platelets (PLT): 152 to
  361 thousand/mm3

• Hemoglobin (Hb or Hgb): 11. 9
  to 14.8 grams per deciliter (g/dL) in women, 13.6 to 16.9 in men

• Hematocrit (HCT): 35% to 43%
  in women, 40% to 50% in men

How is this test done?

The test is done with a blood sample. A needle is used to draw blood from a vein in
your arm or hand. 

Does this test pose any risks?

Having a blood test with a needle carries some risks. These include bleeding, infection,
bruising, and feeling lightheaded. When the needle pricks your arm or hand, you may
feel a slight sting or pain. Afterward, the site may be sore. 

What might affect my test results?

Certain medicines might affect your results, so talk with your healthcare provider
about the medicines you are taking.

How do I get ready for this test?

You don’t need to prepare for this
test. Be sure your healthcare provider knows about all medicines, herbs, vitamins,
and
supplements you are taking. This includes medicines that don’t need a prescription
and
any illicit drugs you may use.

How to decipher a general blood test: the norm of indicators

Likbez

Health

October 30, 2020

This is the fastest way to assess your health.

What is a complete blood count and why is it needed

Human blood consists of hundreds of components, each of which plays an important role in the functioning of the body as a whole. When we are healthy, they are in strict balance – their number and ratio with each other do not go beyond a certain norm. But if something goes wrong in the body, the balance is disturbed.

A complete (clinical) blood test (CBC) is a quick and cheap way to catch the most obvious changes, if any. The results of the KLA will show whether you are healthy, and if you have problems with your well-being, they will tell you what the cause may be.

Complete blood count can detect anemia, inflammation in the body, allergic reactions, parasitic infections, leukemia and other diseases.

However, in order to make a competent conclusion about the state of health, you need to know what the numbers in the results of the KLA mean, and be able to interpret them correctly. It’s best to have your therapist take care of this.

However, you can evaluate the results yourself. But if they even slightly deviate from the norm, a visit to the doctor is required. This is important so as not to miss a possible serious illness.

What a clinical blood test shows

Photo: Lifehacker

UAC concentrates on the three main types of cells that make up blood. These are:

• leukocytes;
• erythrocytes;
• platelets.

Each group of cells has its own tasks.

What are leukocytes and why are they needed

Leukocytes (or white blood cells) are an important part of the immune system. They help to identify, attack and remove pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi and other foreign elements from the body. A complete blood count measures their number – this indicator is hidden behind the abbreviation WBC.

Leukocyte cells, in turn, are divided into five groups. All together they are included in the so-called leukocyte formula.

• Neutrophils . These cells make up 40-60% of the total number of leukocytes. It is they who are the first to fight bacteria, enveloping and removing pathogenic “guests” from the blood.
• Lymphocytes (20-40% of total leukocytes). Lymphocytes are also divided into several types, and in general terms, their tasks are to recognize a pathogenic virus or microbe, destroy it and develop antibodies to infection.
• Monocytes (2-8%). These are cells of innate immunity that can pass from the blood to the tissues of the body. There they become macrophages – “orderlies” that absorb pathogenic microorganisms, including destroyed and dead cells. In addition, having “devoured”, for example, a pathogenic bacterium, a monocyte shows its distinctive features (antigens) to other cells of the immune system – and thus increases immunity.
• Eosinophils (1–4%). These white blood cells mainly fight parasitic infections.
• Basophils (0.5–1%). This type of leukocyte is involved in the development of an allergic reaction.

What are erythrocytes and why are they needed

Erythrocytes are red blood cells whose task is to carry oxygen throughout the body and remove carbon dioxide. To assess the quantity and quality of red blood cells, there are specific indicators that are measured in a general blood test.

• Red blood cell count (RBC) . This indicator indicates the total number of red blood cells in a blood sample.
• Hemoglobin (HGB, Hb) . Measures the total amount of oxygen-carrying protein, hemoglobin.
• Hematocrit (HCT) . This is the percentage of red blood cells in the total blood volume.

In addition to these key indicators, there are additional:

• Mean erythrocyte volume (MCV) . Reports the size of the average red blood cell.
• Mean erythrocyte hemoglobin (MCH) . Shows how much hemoglobin is on average contained in red blood cells.
• Red blood cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) . It is also the color indicator of blood. Gives information about how red blood cells are saturated with hemoglobin. The more of this protein, the brighter the red color of the cells.
• RBC Distribution Width (RDW) . Allows you to find out how much the size of the smallest erythrocyte differs from the size of the largest.
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; sometimes ROE – erythrocyte sedimentation reaction) . Red blood cells are heavier than plasma, the fluid that forms the basis of blood. Therefore, if you put a test tube with blood vertically, after a while, the erythrocytes will go down. This is a normal process. But in inflammatory diseases, erythrocytes begin to stick together with each other, and the rate of their settling increases.

What are platelets and why are they needed

Platelets are cells that help blood clot. If a person is injured, the number of platelets increases, and a clot forms at the site of a scratch or cut – a blood clot. Thus, the body protects itself from blood loss.

In a general blood test, the condition of such cells is usually assessed by platelet count (RLT) . This parameter indicates their total amount in the blood sample.

What are the norms of blood counts for OAC

Normal results of a general blood test in adults look like this.

901 19

The norm of the leukocyte formula is as follows :

9 0132

Indicator	Norm
Neutrophils (absolute value)	1.8–7.8 × 10⁹/l
Lymphocytes	1.0–4.8 × 10⁹/l
Monocytes	0–0, 80 × 10⁹/l
Eosinophils	0–0. 45 × 10⁹/l
Basophils	0–0.20 × 10⁹ /l

Additional indicators must correspond to the following values:

How to decode a general blood test

To understand how the body feels, it is enough to compare the indicators obtained during the analysis with the norm. If they do not go beyond, then your health, most likely, is not in danger. If any of the parameters is increased or decreased, this is an alarming symptom.

Approximately (not exactly!) decipher some of the results of the UAC can be as follows.

• Increased leukocytes . This means that the body is most likely fighting an infection or inflammation. You can guess what exactly we are talking about by the leukocyte formula. For example, a high level of neutrophils and lymphocytes indicates the likelihood of a viral or bacterial infection. An increase in eosinophils suggests the presence of parasites. Basophils – food or contact allergy. The number of white blood cells also increases with certain diseases of the bone marrow, disorders of the immune system, or due to the intake of certain medications.
• Low white blood cells . This is a sign that the immune system is suppressed for some reason. Perhaps we are talking about a lack of vitamins, an autoimmune disease, a violation of the bone marrow, severe infections such as tuberculosis, HIV / AIDS, or another condition that reduces the performance of the immune system.
• Increased erythrocytes and hemoglobin . This happens with dehydration, lung diseases, tumors.
• Reduced red blood cells and hemoglobin . Most often, this is a sign of anemia caused by a lack of iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid in the diet. But the level of red blood cells also decreases with bleeding, chronic inflammatory diseases, or damage to the bone marrow.
• Increased platelets . This indicates a possible anemia, autoimmune or oncological diseases. The number of platelets also increases after an injury or surgery, as well as with internal bleeding.
• Low platelets . This happens with viral infections (mononucleosis, measles, hepatitis), cirrhosis, autoimmune disorders. Or even after taking certain medications, including paracetamol.

What to do if the clinical blood test is different from the norm

Please note: self-decoding is by no means a diagnosis. And all the more not a reason to start self-treatment.

Only a doctor can correctly decipher the complete blood count.

For the reason that it is worth considering the results of the CBC only in conjunction with additional symptoms and information about the patient’s lifestyle, heredity, and chronic diseases. Bringing all the data together can only be done by a qualified physician – a therapist or a specialized specialist observing you.

If a doctor suspects a disease, a CBC will not be enough to make a diagnosis. You will be offered to undergo additional studies, for example, to take a biochemical blood test, do an x-ray or ultrasound. Only having received a complete picture of your condition, the physician will be able to diagnose and prescribe treatment.

Read also 💊💉💊

• How to test for allergens correctly
• What is genetic analysis and who needs it
• Why do people have different blood types and what does it affect
• What tests and vaccinations are needed at different periods of life
• What is normal blood sugar and what to do if it is low or high

Complete blood count

Clinical (general) blood test is a laboratory study of the qualitative and quantitative composition of the patient’s blood in order to diagnose and identify signs of infection and inflammatory processes in the body. A general blood test is always prescribed at the first sign of malaise, but doctors recommend doing it for preventive purposes at least once a year. The results of the analysis are also entered into the sanatorium card, therefore, without it, treatment in the sanatorium is not prescribed.

Subject of research and table of norms

For a general blood test, venous or capillary blood is taken, which is examined for the levels of erythrocytes, platelets, hemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, leukocyte count, hematocrit and a number of other parameters. It is worth noting that for boys and girls under 12 years of age, normal indicators are the same, and then there is a difference not only from gender, but also from the age of the patient – when interpreting the results, the doctor always makes an allowance for this. When taking blood from a vein and from a finger, the results may differ slightly, therefore, for a correct analysis of the dynamics, it is recommended to donate blood using the same method.

CBC reference table

Index	Designation	Norma (women)	Norma (men)	Units
Hemoglobin	HGB, Hb, hemohlobin	117-155	132–173	g/l
Mean erythrocyte volume	MCV, macrocytosis, normocytosis, microcytosis	78–101	80–101	fl
Distribution of erythrocytes by volume	RDW, red cell distribution width	11.6–14.8	11.6–14.8	%
Total number of erythrocytes	RBC, red blood cells	3.9–5.3	4.2–5.6	ppm
Total platelet count	PLT, PC, platelets, platelet count	150-400	150-400	thousand/µl
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate	ESR, ESR, ROE	2–20	2-15	mm/h
Hematocrit	HCT, hematocrit	34–47	37–50	%
Mean erythrocyte hemoglobin	MCH	27–34	27–35	pg
Reticulocytes	RET	0. 5–1.2	0.5–1.2	%
Total white blood cells	WBC, white blood cells	4.5–11	4.5–11	thousand/µl
Leukocyte formula
Neutrophils	NEUT	47–72	47–72	%
Lymphocytes	LYM	19-37	19-37	%
Monocytes	MON	3-12	3-12	%
Eosinophils	EO	1–5	1–5	%
Basophils	BAS	0–1.2	0–1.2	%

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Deciphering the complete blood count

Before proceeding to the description of the indicators of the general blood test, we emphasize that the information below is for informational purposes and the doctor should deal with the interpretation of the results. As a rule, diseases are complex in nature and simultaneously affect several blood parameters, the connection between which can only be made by a doctor. An attempt to engage in self-diagnosis is fraught with wrong conclusions and, as a result, making decisions that are dangerous to health. We also pay attention to the fact that in 5% of healthy people, normal indicators may go beyond the accepted reference (average) values.

Erythrocytes

Erythrocytes – red blood cells – perform the function of couriers in the human body. Due to their elasticity, they penetrate into vessels of any diameter and transport oxygen from the lungs to all organs and tissues, and carry carbon dioxide in the opposite direction. These gases attach to the hemoglobin contained in red blood cells.

High red blood cell counts in the results may indicate dehydration, blood diseases, heart and respiratory failure.

A low level of erythrocytes is noted with blood loss, leukemia, lymphomas, congenital disorders of the hematopoietic function, malignant tumors, hemolytic anemia, as well as with a deficiency in the body of protein, iron and vitamins.

Platelets

The main functions of platelets are blood coagulation, creation of blood clots, maintaining the tone of the vascular walls and nourishing the capillaries.

A high level of platelets in the patient’s blood can be interpreted as a result of spleen resection, exacerbation of chronic autoimmune diseases, anemia of various origins, and inflammatory processes. The number of platelets tends to increase in the third trimester of pregnancy, in the postoperative period, with the development of erythremia and malignant tumors.

A low platelet count in the patient’s blood may indicate hemophilia, drug-induced thrombocytopenia, systemic lupus erythematosus, renal vein thrombosis, viral or bacterial infection, aplastic anemia, Fisher-Evans syndrome.

Hemoglobin

A hemoglobin test is done to assess the severity of anemia or polycythemia and to assess the effectiveness of treatment for these conditions. Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein contained in red blood cells and performs a gas exchange function.

An increase in hemoglobin is observed with dehydration, heart and lung failure, diuretic overdose, heart defects, various diseases of the blood and urinary system.

Anemia of various etiologies, blood diseases, blood loss, deficiency of proteins, vitamins and iron lead to a decrease in hemoglobin.

Leukocytes

Leukocytes – white blood cells – are produced by the bone marrow and perform a protective function in the human body. They help fight foreign objects in the blood, infections, foreign protein molecules, dissolve damaged tissue at the stage of inflammation.

The number of leukocytes in the general blood test can increase for many reasons of a different nature: it can be pregnancy, physical overexertion or eating before blood donation, vaccinations, systemic or local inflammations, injuries, burns, autoimmune diseases, conditions after operations, oncology, leukemia and leukemia.

The content of leukocytes decreases due to viral infections, systemic autoimmune diseases, leukemia, radiation sickness, vitamin deficiency, as well as due to the use of cytostatics and steroids.

Leukocyte formula

The leukocyte formula is a description of the various forms of leukocytes in the blood serum, expressed either in quantitative terms or as a percentage. The leukocyte population includes 5 cell types: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.

Neutrophils are always present in the largest numbers, they are the first to “fight” the infection, surround and eliminate bacteria by phagocytosis. The most common cause of an increase in the level of neutrophils in the blood are acute bacterial and fungal infections. Other possible causes of an increase in the number of neutrophils are systemic inflammatory diseases, pancreatitis, myocardial infarction, conditions after burns, malignant tumors of the bone marrow. The number of neutrophils decreases with massive bacterial infections, sepsis, viral infections, aplastic anemia, tumor metastases in the bone marrow.

Lymphocytes are indispensable tools of the immune system, without them the destruction of viruses and the fight against infection cannot be carried out. B-lymphocytes “specialize” in the production of antibodies, T-lymphocytes – in the destruction of infected cells, preventing the spread of infection, as well as in the detection and destruction of cancer cells. Acute bacterial infections, influenza, aplastic anemia, AIDS, systemic lupus erythematosus, certain congenital diseases, and prednisone use lead to a decrease in the level of lymphocytes. Infectious mononucleosis, rubella, chickenpox and other viral infections, malignant tumors of the bone marrow and lymph nodes, as well as some bacterial infections lead to an increase in the level of lymphocytes.

There are few monocytes in the blood, but they perform an important protective function. Monocytes have the ability to turn into macrophages, destroying damaged cells and holding foreign proteins on their surface, thereby facilitating the work of lymphocytes. A decrease in the number of monocytes usually indicates aplastic anemia or accompanies treatment with prednisone. An increase in the concentration of monocytes is manifested in acute bacterial infections, tuberculosis, syphilis, sarcoidosis, connective tissue diseases, oncological diseases of various localization.

There are also few eosinophils in the blood relative to other leukocytes, and they also have the ability to phagocytosis, but their main task is to fight parasites and regulate allergic reactions. An elevated level of eosinophils is associated with allergic diseases (bronchial asthma, eczema, food allergies), allergic reactions to drugs, and infection with parasitic worms. Much less often, an increase in the number of eosinophils can be explained by the development of malignant tumors in the bone marrow and lymph nodes, systemic connective tissue diseases, or Lefler’s syndrome. The number of eosinophils decreases during treatment with prednisolone, with Cushing’s and Goodpasture’s syndromes, as well as with acute bacterial infections.

Basophils , when activated, release histamine, a substance that causes allergy symptoms (itching, burning, redness). The concentration of basophils in the results of a blood test decreases in the acute phase of an infectious disease, hyperthyroidism, and prolonged treatment with corticosteroids. An increase in the content of basophils is rarely observed, for example, in oncological diseases of the bone marrow and lymph nodes, polycythemia vera, and some allergic diseases.

Reticulocytes

Reticulocytes are young red blood cells produced by the bone marrow. A quantitative study of reticulocytes in the blood gives an idea of ​​how adequately the bone marrow is producing red blood cells. The level of reticulocytes may deviate from the norm due to third-party reasons, such as climbing to high altitude, scuba diving, smoking, pregnancy, taking medications.

An increase in reticulocytes in the results of a complete blood count is caused by bleeding, hemolysis, inflammation, cancer, polycythemia of various etiologies, the consequences of radiation therapy and chemotherapy, side effects from the treatment of anemia.

Finding a low level of reticulocytes in the results, the doctor may suggest iron deficiency, B ₁₂ -deficiency or folic acid deficiency anemia, thyroid disease, aplastic anemia, kidney disease, chronic infections, uremia.

Hematocrit

Hematocrit, measured as a percentage, is the ratio of the volume of red blood cells to the volume of the liquid component of the blood. Elevated hematocrit is detected with iron, B ₁₂ – and folate deficiency anemia, bleeding, impaired hemoglobin synthesis, cirrhosis of the liver, hemolysis, malignant tumors, or due to intravenous administration of significant volumes of fluids. A low hematocrit usually indicates dehydration, but can also be a sign of chronic heart failure, COPD, or polycythemia vera.

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)

This test measures how quickly blood separates into plasma and red blood cells. The test results are used to diagnose diseases associated with acute or chronic inflammation, including cancer, infections, and autoimmune diseases. Infectious and inflammatory diseases, connective tissue diseases, cancer, myocardial infarction, anemia, burns and trauma increase the ESR, while a decrease in ESR is usually caused by polycythemia and diseases associated with a change in the shape of red blood cells.

How to prepare for blood donation

• Stop drinking alcohol one day before the blood donation appointment.