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Hematocrit Blood Test Interpret: Understanding Hematocrit and Hemoglobin Levels

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What do hematocrit and hemoglobin levels in a blood test mean? How can you interpret your blood test results to understand your health better?

Interpreting Your Blood Test Results: A Concise Guide

Learning to interpret your blood test results empowers you to understand your body. In this guide, we address some of the most common items on a blood test report to help you make sense of what your numbers mean.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

The complete blood count (CBC) evaluates the different components of your blood:

White Blood Cells (WBC)

White blood cells work for your immune system by fighting infections. However, a high white blood cell count can also be linked to allergic reactions and heart disease.

Red Blood Cells (RBC)

Low levels of red blood cells might indicate anemia, nutritional deficiencies, kidney problems, or bone marrow damage. High levels could point to dehydration, kidney or heart problems, or the onset of fatty liver disease.

Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin levels measure how well your blood carries oxygen. The mean corpuscular hemoglobin count (MCHC) indicates how much of this protein each red blood cell contains.

Hematocrit

Hematocrit describes the volume of red blood cells compared to the other components of your blood, like plasma. Low hematocrit levels may indicate recent blood loss, vitamin deficiency, or anemia, while high levels could point to dehydration or heart disease.

Platelets

Platelets bind blood into clots to stop bleeding. An insufficient number of platelets can lead to bleeding disorders, while an excess can cause clotting disorders. This test can provide evidence of autoimmune diseases or bone marrow disorders.

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

The comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) measures various chemical components that help regulate your body:

Glucose Levels

Glucose levels measure blood sugar and indicate how your body processes sugar, screening for diabetes.

Electrolytes

Electrolytes are essential minerals that affect hydration, acidity, and muscle function. They also relate to the health of organs that require them, such as calcium for bones.

Bilirubin

Bilirubin indicates broken hemoglobin and can cause jaundice.

Albumin

Albumin is the primary component of blood plasma. Low levels hint at malnutrition, inflammation, or liver and kidney diseases.

Creatine

Creatine supplies energy to muscles. High creatine levels warn of kidney problems, as the kidneys remove creatine from the blood.

Lipid Panel

The lipid panel measures different types of fats in your blood:

Triglycerides

Triglycerides come from the liver and can bounce high from sugar, fat, and alcohol consumption. However, liver and thyroid disease, as well as genetic conditions, may also increase triglycerides.

High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)

HDL, known as “good cholesterol,” lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)

LDL, or “bad cholesterol,” repairs cells, but high levels can clog arteries and cause coronary artery disease.

Blood test results provide clues to various system disorders or excellent health. While your doctor should discuss your blood test results with you, learning to read these results can help you understand and advocate for your own health.

Do you need to schedule a blood test? Call Advance Urgent Care Of Pasadena at 626-304-0404 today.

What Is a Complete Blood Count?

A complete blood count (CBC) is a test that counts the cells that make up your blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Your doctor may order a CBC as part of a routine checkup or to check for anemia, monitor a blood condition, or see how medications or treatments are affecting your blood.

How Is a CBC Done?

The CBC test is simple and only takes a few minutes. A nurse or lab tech will take a sample of blood by putting a needle into a vein in your arm. You can then leave and get back to your routine, while the blood is sent to a lab for review.

What Does a CBC Measure?

The CBC measures the following components of your blood:

White Blood Cells (WBCs)

White blood cells help your body fight germs. If you have too many, it could be a sign of inflammation, infection, a medical reaction, or another health condition. If your WBC count is low, you could be at a higher risk for infection, or it could be due to a medication, viral infection, or bone marrow disease.

Red Blood Cells (RBCs)

Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body. Low levels of RBCs may indicate anemia, while high levels could point to dehydration, kidney or heart problems, or the onset of fatty liver disease.

Platelets

Platelets help your blood clot to stop bleeding. If you have too few platelets, you may develop bleeding disorders, while an excess can lead to clotting disorders. The platelet count can also provide evidence of autoimmune diseases or bone marrow disorders.

CBC Results

Your CBC results will show the levels of each of these blood components. Your doctor will compare your results to the normal ranges to determine if anything is out of the ordinary and what that might mean for your health.

What Else Might My CBC Tell Me?

In addition to the specific blood cell counts, your CBC can provide clues about your overall health. For example, it can help identify anemia, infections, and certain medical conditions. Your doctor will discuss your CBC results with you and what they mean for your health.

Interpreting Your Blood Test Results: A Concise Guide



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on Apr 17, 2023
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How to Interpret Your Blood Test Results: A Quick Guide

Learning to interpret your blood test results empowers you to understand your body. So what does it all mean? In this guide, we address some of the most common items on a blood test report.

To learn more about what blood test results mean, call 626-304-0404 today! 

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

Blood cell counts evaluate the parts of the blood:

  • White blood cells (WBC) work for your immune system by fighting infections, but allergic reactions can also produce them. High white blood cell count is also linked to heart disease.
  • Red blood cells (RBC) Low levels of red blood cells might indicate anemia, nutritional deficiencies, kidney problems, or bone marrow damage. High levels might mean simple dehydration but could also point to kidney or heart problems or the onset of fatty liver disease.
  • Hemoglobin levels measure how well your blood carries oxygen. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin count (MCHC) measures how much of this protein each red blood cell contains.
  • Hematocrit describes the volume of red blood cells compared to the other components, like blood plasma. Low hematocrit levels may indicate recent blood loss, vitamin deficiency, or anemia. High levels could point to dehydration or heart disease.
  • Platelets bind blood into clots to stop bleeding. Without enough platelets in your system, you develop bleeding disorders, and with too many, you get clotting disorders. This test provides evidence of autoimmune diseases or bone marrow disorders.

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel CMP

Metabolism refers to the chemical components that help regulate your body:

  • Glucose levels measure blood sugar and indicate how your body processes sugar, screening for diabetes.
  • Electrolytes are essential minerals that affect hydration, acidity, and muscle function and also relate to the health of organs that require them, such as calcium for bones.
  • Bilirubin indicates broken hemoglobin and causes jaundice
  • Albumin is the primary component of blood plasma. Low levels hint at malnutrition, inflammation, or liver and kidney diseases.
  • Creatine supplies energy to muscles. Your kidneys remove creatine from the blood, so high creatine levels warn of kidney problems.

Lipid Panel

Lipids, the medical term for fats, serve vital functions in the body. Here’s what lipid levels mean in blood samples:

  • Triglycerides come from the liver and bounce high from sugar, fat, and alcohol. However, liver and thyroid disease and genetic conditions may also increase triglycerides.
  • High-density lipoprotein (HDL), known as “good cholesterol”, lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease.
  • Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad cholesterol,” repairs cells, but high levels can clog arteries and cause coronary artery disease.

Schedule Fast, Accurate Blood Tests

Blood test results provide clues to various system disorders or excellent health. While your doctor should discuss blood test results with you, learning to read these results helps you understand, and advocate for, your own health.

Do you need to schedule a blood test? Call Advance Urgent Care Of Pasadena at 626-304-0404 today.

Purpose, What It Measures, and Normal Results

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

  • What Is a Complete Blood Count?
  • How Is a CBC Done?
  • What Does a CBC Measure?
  • CBC Results
  • What Else Might My CBC Tell Me?

A complete blood count (CBC) is a test that counts the cells that make up your blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Your doctor may order a CBC as part of a routine checkup or to:

  • Check for anemia, a condition that causes you to have fewer red blood cells than usual
  • Find out if you have another health issue or to explain symptoms like weakness, fever, bruising, or feeling tired
  • Keep an eye on a blood condition
  • See how medications, medical conditions, or treatments like chemotherapy are affecting your blood

If the CBC is the only blood test you’re having, you can eat and drink like you usually would.

Your part of the test is simple and takes just a few minutes. A nurse or lab tech will take a sample of blood by putting a needle into a vein in your arm. Afterward, you can leave and get back to your routine. They’ll send the blood to a lab for review.

The test can tell your doctor a lot about your overall health. It measures:

  • White blood cells (WBCs). These help your body fight germs. If you have too many of them, it could be a sign of inflammation, infection, a medical reaction, or another health condition. If it’s low, you could be at a higher risk for infection. A medication, a viral infection, or a bone marrow disease could also cause a low count.
  • Red blood cells (RBC). These deliver oxygen throughout your body. They also help carry carbon dioxide. If your RBC count is too low, you may have anemia or another condition.
  • Hemoglobin (Hb or Hgb). This is the protein in your blood that holds oxygen.
  • Hematocrit (Hct). This test tells how much of your blood is made up of red blood cells. A low score may be a sign that you don’t have enough iron, the mineral that helps your body make red blood cells. A high score could mean you’re dehydrated or have another condition.
  • Mean corpuscular volume (MCV). This is the average size of your red blood cells. If they’re bigger than usual, your MCV will be higher. That could happen if you have low vitamin B12 or folate levels. If your red blood cells are smaller, you could have a type of anemia.
  • Platelets. These help your blood clot.

When you get your report, you’ll see two columns: a “reference range” and your results. If your results are inside the reference range, they’re considered normal. If your results are higher or lower than the reference range, they’re abnormal. Mild anemia is one of the most common reasons your results might be off.

Each lab has different ways of studying your blood. So the reference range will depend on the lab that handles your blood tests. It’s also based on things that can affect your blood like your age, your sex, and how high above sea level you live.

In general, the reference ranges are:

  • White blood cells: 4,500 to 11,000 cells per microliter (cells/mcL)
  • Red blood cells: 4.5 million to 5.9 million cells/mcL for men; 4.1 million to 5.1 million cells/mcL for women
  • Hemoglobin: 14 to 17.5 grams per deciliter (gm/dL) for men; 12. 3 to 15.3 gm/dL for women
  • Hematocrit: 41.5% to 50.4% for men; 35.9% to 44.6% for women
  • Mean corpuscular volume: 80 to 96
  • Platelets: 150,000 to 450,000 platelets/mcL

Your doctor might order more results to learn whether you have an illness or blood condition, including:

  • Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH). This test tells how much hemoglobin is in your typical red blood cell.
  • Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). This measures the concentration of hemoglobin in a certain amount of blood.
  • Red cell distribution width (RDW). This shows how much your red blood cells vary in size.
  • Reticulocyte count. This test measures the number of new red blood cells in your body.
  • Mean platelet volume (MPV). This result gives the average size of the platelets in your blood.
  • Platelet distribution width (PDW).  This shows how much your platelets vary in size.
  • White blood cell differential. There are five types of white blood cells: basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils. This test shows how many of each kind you have.

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Deciphering a blood test on the analyzer – Article in Yekaterinburg

Modern hematological analyzers have the ability to decipher from 5 to 24 blood parameters:

  • WBC (white blood cells – white blood cells, leukocytes). The indicator characterizes the absolute content of leukocytes.
  • RBC (red blood cells – red blood cells, erythrocytes) shows the absolute content of erythrocytes in the blood.
  • HGB (Hb, hemoglobin, hemoglobin) – the concentration of hemoglobin in whole blood.
  • HCT (hematocrit, hematocrit). Hematocrit determines the ratio of the volume of formed elements to plasma.
  • PLT (platelets, platelets) – absolute number of platelets

Erythrocyte indices Using the analysis, you can determine the presence of microcytosis, normocytosis, macrocytosis.

  • MCH is the average amount of hemoglobin in an erythrocyte in absolute units. The analysis indicates the color index.
    • LYM% (LY%) (lymphocyte) — percentage of lymphocyte concentration.
    • LYM# (LY#) (lymphocyte) — absolute number of lymphocytes.
    • MXD% – relative percentage of a mixture consisting of monocytes, basophils and eosinophils.
    • MXD# is the absolute amount of a mixture consisting of monocytes, basophils and eosinophils.
    • NEUT% (NE%) (neutrophils) – percentage of neutrophils.
    • NEUT# (NE#) (neutrophils) — absolute number of neutrophils.
    • MON% (MO%) (monocyte) – percentage of monocytes
    • MON# (MO#) (monocyte) – absolute number of monocytes
    • EO% – relative percentage of eosinophils.
    • EO# is the absolute number of eosinophils.
    • BA% – relative percentage of basophils.
    • BA# is the absolute number of basophils.
    • IMM% – relative percentage of immature granulocytes.
    • IMM# is the absolute number of immature granulocytes.
    • ATL% – relative percentage of atypical lymphocytes.
    • ATL# is the absolute number of atypical lymphocytes.
    • GR% – relative percentage of granulocytes.
    • GR# is the absolute number of granulocytes.

    Erythrocyte indices

    • RBC/HCT — mean volume of erythrocytes.
    • HGB/RBC is the average amount of hemoglobin in an erythrocyte.
    • HGB/HCT — average saturation of erythrocyte hemoglobin.
    • RDW – Red cell Distribution Width – “the width of the red blood cell distribution.” Characterizes the heterogeneity of erythrocytes.
    • RDW-SD is the standard deviation of the distribution width of erythrocytes by volume.
    • RDW-CV – coefficient of variation in the relative width of the distribution of erythrocytes by volume.
    • P-LCR is a coefficient indicating the number of large platelets.
    • ESR (ESR) (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is a marker of pathology.

    Based on various blood parameters, modern hematology analyzers build histograms that allow you to analyze the stages of the pathological process and make decisions on its elimination.

    Normal blood counts differ in patients depending on gender, age, and additional factors (lifestyle, bad habits, etc.).

    Attention! Medica Group sells automated microbiology analyzers and culture vials, but does not provide a service to to collect or interpret blood test results.

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    Explanation of test values ​​

    There are many options for taking a blood test. Blood is taken for various purposes, to obtain indicators of the level of various elements in the blood, as well as other related processes.

    An accurate blood test will help you determine what is wrong in the body in time and tell the doctor what measures need to be taken to improve your condition. A blood test also helps to monitor how medications affect the body.

    Consider how the indicators are deciphered:

    Leukocyte indicators:

    • WBC (leukocytes) – white or colorless blood cells of various sizes. The main function of white blood cells is to resist infections, viruses, bacteria, etc. Leukocytes are divided into 5 types: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils.
    • LYM (lymphocytes) are the main cells of the human immune system. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that is produced in the lymphatic system and bone marrow. According to their functions, lymphocytes are divided into B – lymphocytes that produce antibodies, T-lymphocytes that fight infections and NK lymphocytes that control the quality of body cells.
    • LYM% – relative content of lymphocytes.
    • MON (monocytes) is one of the types of phagocytes, the largest type of leukocytes. Monocytes are formed in the bone marrow. These cells are involved in the regulation and differentiation of hematopoiesis, then go to the tissues of the body and there they turn into macrophages. Monocytes are of great importance, as they are responsible for the initial activation of the entire human immune system.
    • MON% – relative content of monocytes.
    • NEU (neutrophils) – neutrophils are generated in the bone marrow. Their service life in the blood lasts several hours. Neutrophils destroy microbes (phagocytosis).
    • NEU% is the relative content of neutrophils.
    • EOS (eosinophils) – white blood cells, characterized by a specific orange color. They take part in the immune system. Elevated in infections with parasites. There is a tendency to appear with allergies and asthma.
    • EOS% – relative content of eosinophils.
    • BAS (basophils) is one of the large forms of leukocytes in the blood related to the immune system. The main function is the expansion of blood vessels during infection.
    • BAS% – relative content of basophils.

    Erythrocyte indicators:

    • RBC (erythrocytes) – red blood cells that carry hemoglobin. The main function of erythrocytes is to transport oxygen from the lungs to all tissues and carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs. Few red blood cells means little hemoglobin. Too little hemoglobin means too few red blood cells. They are interconnected.
    • HGB (hemoglobin) – A protein found in erythrocytes and responsible for the transfer of oxygen molecules to the cells of the body. The hemoglobin level is not a constant value and depends on age, gender, ethnicity, disease, smoking, in women – on pregnancy, etc.
    • HCT (hematocrit) – shows as a percentage the index of the volume of erythrocytes to the volume of the entire blood sample.
    • MCV (mean erythrocyte volume) – index of the average volume of erythrocytes.
    • MCH (mean volume of hemoglobin) – the average amount of hemoglobin in an individual erythrocyte: in red blood cells.
    • MCHC – the average concentration of hemoglobin in the erythrocyte.
    • RDWc is the RBC distribution width. The indicator determines how red blood cells differ in size.

    Platelet indicators:

    • PLT (platelets) – cells that affect blood coagulation processes. Platelets are responsible for hemostasis, wound healing, and stopping bleeding. Analysis of platelets is important in diseases of the bone marrow in which they are formed.
    • PCT (thrombocrit) is an indicator that characterizes the percentage of platelet mass in the blood volume. Used to assess the risk of bleeding and thrombosis.
    • MPV (mean platelet volume) is the index of the average platelet volume.
    • PDWc is the relative width of platelet distribution by volume.

    Additional indicators:

    • ESR – erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Nonspecific laboratory blood indicator, reflecting the ratio of plasma protein fractions; a change in ESR can serve as an indirect sign of a current inflammatory or other pathological process.