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Hematocrit blood test interpret: Hematocrit and Hemoglobin

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Interpreting Your Blood Test Results: A Concise Guide



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by Marc Shomer
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.

Hematocrit

Medical Tests 

Definition

Hematocrit is a blood test that measures how much of a person’s blood is made up of red blood cells. This measurement depends on the number of and size of the red blood cells.

Alternative Names

HCT

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed.

How to Prepare for the Test

No special preparation is necessary for this test.

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away.

Why the Test is Performed

The hematocrit is almost always done as part of a complete blood count (CBC).

Your health care provider may recommend this test if you have signs of or are at risk for anemia. These include having:

  • Grumpiness or tiredness
  • Headaches
  • Problems concentrating
  • Poor nutrition
  • Heavy menstrual periods
  • Blood in your stools, or vomit (if you throw up)
  • Treatment for cancer
  • Leukemia or other problems in the bone marrow
  • Chronic medical problems, such as kidney disease or certain types of arthritis

Normal Results

adam.com”>Normal results vary, but in general they are:

  • Male: 40.7% to 50.3%
  • Female: 36.1% to 44.3%

For babies, normal results are:

  • Newborn: 45% to 61%
  • Infant: 32% to 42%

The examples above are common measurements for results of these tests. Normal value ranges vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Low hematocrit may be due to:

  • Anemia
  • Bleeding
  • Destruction of red blood cells
  • Leukemia
  • Malnutrition
  • Too little iron, folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 in the diet
  • Too much water in the body

High hematocrit may be due to:

    adam.com”>

  • Congenital heart disease
  • Failure of the right side of the heart
  • Too little water in the body (dehydration)
  • Low levels of oxygen in the blood
  • Scarring or thickening of the lungs
  • Bone marrow disease that causes abnormal increase in red blood cells

Risks

There is little risk involved with having your blood taken.Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:

  • Excessive bleeding
  • Fainting or feeling lightheaded
  • Multiple punctures to locate veins
  • Hematoma (blood buildup under the skin)
  • Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

References

adam.com”>Chernecky CC, Berger BJ. H. Hematocrit (Hct) – blood. In: Chernecky CC, Berger BJ, eds. Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures. 6th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:620-621.

Maheshwari A, Carlo WA. Blood disorders. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Geme JW, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 103.

Vajpayee N, Graham SS, Bem S. Basic examination of blood and bone marrow. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry’s Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 23rd ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2017:chap 30.

Review Date: 02/18/2018

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only — they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright ©2019 A.D.A.M., Inc., as modified by University of California San Francisco. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Information developed by A.D.A.M., Inc. regarding tests and test results may not directly correspond with information provided by UCSF Health. Please discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.

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.