Low hct levels in blood test: Hematocrit Test: MedlinePlus Medical Test
What it is, levels, high and low range
Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in a person’s blood. A typical hematocrit range in healthy adults is 37–52%. This varies depending on a person’s sex and age.
Authors of a 2017 study identified the above typical range.
Low red blood cell levels indicate conditions such as anemia. High red blood cell levels could signal polycythemia, increasing a person’s chance of developing a blood clot.
If a person feels tired, dizzy, or short of breath, a doctor may want to test their hematocrit levels to see if those levels fall into a normal range or not.
Read on to learn more about what this measure of red blood cell volume means, symptoms of abnormal levels, and what low and high levels might indicate.
Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in the body. For example: if a person has 50 milliliters (ml) of red blood cells in 100 ml of blood, their hematocrit level is 50%.
Red blood cells transport oxygen around the body and give blood its characteristic red color.
In addition to oxygen, they also contain hemoglobin, a protein that binds to oxygen molecules. This allows red blood cells to pick up oxygen from the lungs and deliver it throughout the body.
An adequate amount of red blood cells is essential to keep the body’s processes running smoothly.
Many conditions can affect red blood cell production or its life cycle. This can make it difficult for a medical professional to diagnose these conditions. A doctor will use a hematocrit test to confirm whether a person’s red blood cell count is affecting a health condition.
Doctors usually test hematocrit levels as part of a complete blood count (CBC).
A CBC is composed of a range of tests and may include:
- red blood cell count
- reticulocyte count (young red blood cells)
- an analysis of hemoglobin levels
- an analysis of red blood cells, including size and shape
- white blood cell tests
- platelet tests
A doctor will also consider a person’s sex, race, and age.
It is important to note that certain blood-related conditions, such as sickle-cell anemia, affect particular demographic groups at higher rates.
Learn more about sickle cell anemia in African Americans here.
A doctor may request frequent hematocrit tests to monitor the effect of chemotherapy on a person’s bone marrow.
Both high and low hematocrit levels can be detrimental to a person’s health and result from various conditions and lifestyle factors.
What are normal hematocrit levels?
Different institutions will define normal hematocrit levels differently. However, a 2017 cross-population study found the following ranges to be typical.
- Male: 42-52%
- Female: 37-47%
- Children: 30–44%, depending on their age and sex
Newborn babies have high hematocrit levels that gradually decrease as they get older.
If a person has recently received a blood transfusion, it may affect their results. Additionally, pregnant individuals may have lower levels than usual because the body increases its blood volume during pregnancy.
Other factors, such as smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), may push levels into a higher range.
Low levels
A hematocrit level below 35% in women and 41% in men is low. A level under this value can signify chronic anemia.
High levels
Hematocrit levels above the typical ranges can have adverse effects. It may indicate serious underlying health conditions.
Accuracy of results
Results from hematocrit tests are typically accurate and provide a clear reading of a person’s red blood cell levels.
However, the percentage of red blood cells in someone’s blood can change depending on various lifestyle factors and even environmental changes. According to research, red blood cell counts tend to increase at high altitudes.
Exercise, particularly strength training, may also affect hematocrit levels. A 2018 study found that females who participated in 16 weeks of strength exercise had lower levels at the end than when they started.
However, the study had a small sample size of 26 middle-aged, sedentary Turkish women. This means that these findings aren’t necessarily representative of a wider population.
Dehydration can also raise hematocrit levels, so this test is useful if a doctor suspects severe dehydration is the cause of a person’s symptoms.
When a person has low hematocrit levels, they tend to present with the following symptoms:
- pale complexion
- weakness
- fatigue
- low energy
- trouble breathing
- irregular heartbeat
- cold hands or feet
These symptoms also indicate anemia, a condition where hemoglobin levels are lower than normal. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body.
Mild anemia is treatable, and it is particularly common in women. Severe anemia could signal a more serious underlying health condition that requires more extensive treatment.
Doctors associate anemia with several health conditions, including:
Nutrient deficiency
A person may lack B12, folate, or iron in their diet.
Learn more about how nutrient deficiency anemia is diagnosed and treated.
Chronic bleeding
This commonly occurs due to digestive tract ulcers, which are sores caused by the bacteria H.pylori or chronic use of anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and aspirin. Many women also experience excessive blood loss from heavy menstrual bleeding.
Bone marrow disorder
This includes aplastic anemia, which damages stem cells in bone marrow.
Cancer
These cancers spread to bone marrow, such as leukemia and lymphoma.
Learn more about bone marrow cancers here.
Kidney failure
Kidney disease can lower the production of red blood cells, reducing hematocrit levels.
Thalassemia
When a person has this condition, their body does not produce enough hemoglobin.
Learn more about thalassemia here.
Sickle cell anemia
This condition changes the shape of red blood cells.
These cells die earlier than normal, and they also clump together, which impairs blood flow.
Learn more about sickle cell anemia here.
Autoimmune disease
Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus may reduce red blood cell count.
Learn more about autoimmune diseases here.
When a person has high hematocrit levels, they tend to present with these symptoms:
- flushed skin
- dizziness
- vision problems
- headaches
- enlarged spleen
These symptoms signal polycythemia, a condition where the body produces too many red blood cells. This means blood is thicker and clots more easily.
Doctors cannot cure polycythemia, so treatment focuses on symptom management. The main goal is to avoid stroke and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a blood clot usually occurring in a deep vein in the leg.
In some cases, dehydration causes polycythemia. When a person does not drink enough, their plasma levels drop, increasing the proportion of red blood cells in their blood volume.
A person can lower their red blood cell count by rehydrating.
Some conditions that can cause high hematocrit levels include:
Lung or pulmonary disease
When the lungs cannot absorb oxygen effectively, and oxygen levels drop, the body compensates by making more red blood cells. One common pulmonary disease causing this is COPD.
Learn more about COPD here.
Heart disease
If the structure of a person’s heart reduces its ability to pump blood around the body, it can no longer sustain vital organs with oxygen. To try and overcome the oxygen deficit, the body produces more red blood cells.
Learn more about heart disease here.
Kidney cancer
Sometimes kidney cancer cells create more erythropoietin. Erythropoietin is a hormone that tells the bone marrow to create more red blood cells.
Learn more about kidney cancer here.
Genetic disease
The JAK2 gene, which controls the number of blood cells made in the bone marrow, can affect certain conditions.
When someone has a mutated JAK2 gene, the body could make a protein that signals the bone marrow to create more red blood cells than it needs.
Learn more about genetic disorders here.
A person should speak with a doctor if they are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above that could be a sign of high or low hematocrit levels, including fatigue, weakness, vision problems, and dizziness.
These symptoms can also indicate an underlying condition, so a person must contact a doctor promptly to prevent future complications.
If a person is receiving chemotherapy treatment, a doctor should perform regular hematocrit tests to monitor bone marrow health.
Hematocrit is the percentage of blood cells in a person’s blood volume. A doctor may test an individual’s hematocrit level due to certain symptoms.
A low hematocrit level means there are too few red blood cells in the body. In these cases, a person may experience symptoms that signal anemia. Common symptoms include fatigue, weakness, and low energy.
If a person has too many red blood cells, they have a high hematocrit level. A person may experience dizziness and headaches, which can be a sign of the condition polycythemia.
Demographic and lifestyle factors can influence a person’s hematocrit levels. For example, males tend to have higher levels than females. Pregnant individuals can experience a decrease in hematocrit levels, and strength training may also reduce levels.
There are also several health conditions that can cause hematocrit levels outside the normal range. Excessive bleeding, thalassemia, and kidney disease are causes of low levels. COPD and sickle cell anemia can cause high levels.
Read this article in Spanish.
What it is, levels, high and low range
Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in a person’s blood. A typical hematocrit range in healthy adults is 37–52%. This varies depending on a person’s sex and age.
Authors of a 2017 study identified the above typical range.
Low red blood cell levels indicate conditions such as anemia. High red blood cell levels could signal polycythemia, increasing a person’s chance of developing a blood clot.
If a person feels tired, dizzy, or short of breath, a doctor may want to test their hematocrit levels to see if those levels fall into a normal range or not.
Read on to learn more about what this measure of red blood cell volume means, symptoms of abnormal levels, and what low and high levels might indicate.
Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in the body. For example: if a person has 50 milliliters (ml) of red blood cells in 100 ml of blood, their hematocrit level is 50%.
Red blood cells transport oxygen around the body and give blood its characteristic red color. In addition to oxygen, they also contain hemoglobin, a protein that binds to oxygen molecules. This allows red blood cells to pick up oxygen from the lungs and deliver it throughout the body.
An adequate amount of red blood cells is essential to keep the body’s processes running smoothly.
Many conditions can affect red blood cell production or its life cycle. This can make it difficult for a medical professional to diagnose these conditions. A doctor will use a hematocrit test to confirm whether a person’s red blood cell count is affecting a health condition.
Doctors usually test hematocrit levels as part of a complete blood count (CBC).
A CBC is composed of a range of tests and may include:
- red blood cell count
- reticulocyte count (young red blood cells)
- an analysis of hemoglobin levels
- an analysis of red blood cells, including size and shape
- white blood cell tests
- platelet tests
A doctor will also consider a person’s sex, race, and age. It is important to note that certain blood-related conditions, such as sickle-cell anemia, affect particular demographic groups at higher rates.
Learn more about sickle cell anemia in African Americans here.
A doctor may request frequent hematocrit tests to monitor the effect of chemotherapy on a person’s bone marrow.
Both high and low hematocrit levels can be detrimental to a person’s health and result from various conditions and lifestyle factors.
What are normal hematocrit levels?
Different institutions will define normal hematocrit levels differently. However, a 2017 cross-population study found the following ranges to be typical.
- Male: 42-52%
- Female: 37-47%
- Children: 30–44%, depending on their age and sex
Newborn babies have high hematocrit levels that gradually decrease as they get older.
If a person has recently received a blood transfusion, it may affect their results. Additionally, pregnant individuals may have lower levels than usual because the body increases its blood volume during pregnancy.
Other factors, such as smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), may push levels into a higher range.
Low levels
A hematocrit level below 35% in women and 41% in men is low. A level under this value can signify chronic anemia.
High levels
Hematocrit levels above the typical ranges can have adverse effects. It may indicate serious underlying health conditions.
Accuracy of results
Results from hematocrit tests are typically accurate and provide a clear reading of a person’s red blood cell levels.
However, the percentage of red blood cells in someone’s blood can change depending on various lifestyle factors and even environmental changes. According to research, red blood cell counts tend to increase at high altitudes.
Exercise, particularly strength training, may also affect hematocrit levels. A 2018 study found that females who participated in 16 weeks of strength exercise had lower levels at the end than when they started. However, the study had a small sample size of 26 middle-aged, sedentary Turkish women. This means that these findings aren’t necessarily representative of a wider population.
Dehydration can also raise hematocrit levels, so this test is useful if a doctor suspects severe dehydration is the cause of a person’s symptoms.
When a person has low hematocrit levels, they tend to present with the following symptoms:
- pale complexion
- weakness
- fatigue
- low energy
- trouble breathing
- irregular heartbeat
- cold hands or feet
These symptoms also indicate anemia, a condition where hemoglobin levels are lower than normal. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body.
Mild anemia is treatable, and it is particularly common in women. Severe anemia could signal a more serious underlying health condition that requires more extensive treatment.
Doctors associate anemia with several health conditions, including:
Nutrient deficiency
A person may lack B12, folate, or iron in their diet.
Learn more about how nutrient deficiency anemia is diagnosed and treated.
Chronic bleeding
This commonly occurs due to digestive tract ulcers, which are sores caused by the bacteria H.
pylori or chronic use of anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and aspirin. Many women also experience excessive blood loss from heavy menstrual bleeding.
Bone marrow disorder
This includes aplastic anemia, which damages stem cells in bone marrow.
Cancer
These cancers spread to bone marrow, such as leukemia and lymphoma.
Learn more about bone marrow cancers here.
Kidney failure
Kidney disease can lower the production of red blood cells, reducing hematocrit levels.
Thalassemia
When a person has this condition, their body does not produce enough hemoglobin.
Learn more about thalassemia here.
Sickle cell anemia
This condition changes the shape of red blood cells. These cells die earlier than normal, and they also clump together, which impairs blood flow.
Learn more about sickle cell anemia here.
Autoimmune disease
Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus may reduce red blood cell count.
Learn more about autoimmune diseases here.
When a person has high hematocrit levels, they tend to present with these symptoms:
- flushed skin
- dizziness
- vision problems
- headaches
- enlarged spleen
These symptoms signal polycythemia, a condition where the body produces too many red blood cells. This means blood is thicker and clots more easily.
Doctors cannot cure polycythemia, so treatment focuses on symptom management. The main goal is to avoid stroke and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a blood clot usually occurring in a deep vein in the leg.
In some cases, dehydration causes polycythemia. When a person does not drink enough, their plasma levels drop, increasing the proportion of red blood cells in their blood volume. A person can lower their red blood cell count by rehydrating.
Some conditions that can cause high hematocrit levels include:
Lung or pulmonary disease
When the lungs cannot absorb oxygen effectively, and oxygen levels drop, the body compensates by making more red blood cells.
One common pulmonary disease causing this is COPD.
Learn more about COPD here.
Heart disease
If the structure of a person’s heart reduces its ability to pump blood around the body, it can no longer sustain vital organs with oxygen. To try and overcome the oxygen deficit, the body produces more red blood cells.
Learn more about heart disease here.
Kidney cancer
Sometimes kidney cancer cells create more erythropoietin. Erythropoietin is a hormone that tells the bone marrow to create more red blood cells.
Learn more about kidney cancer here.
Genetic disease
The JAK2 gene, which controls the number of blood cells made in the bone marrow, can affect certain conditions. When someone has a mutated JAK2 gene, the body could make a protein that signals the bone marrow to create more red blood cells than it needs.
Learn more about genetic disorders here.
A person should speak with a doctor if they are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above that could be a sign of high or low hematocrit levels, including fatigue, weakness, vision problems, and dizziness.
These symptoms can also indicate an underlying condition, so a person must contact a doctor promptly to prevent future complications.
If a person is receiving chemotherapy treatment, a doctor should perform regular hematocrit tests to monitor bone marrow health.
Hematocrit is the percentage of blood cells in a person’s blood volume. A doctor may test an individual’s hematocrit level due to certain symptoms.
A low hematocrit level means there are too few red blood cells in the body. In these cases, a person may experience symptoms that signal anemia. Common symptoms include fatigue, weakness, and low energy.
If a person has too many red blood cells, they have a high hematocrit level. A person may experience dizziness and headaches, which can be a sign of the condition polycythemia.
Demographic and lifestyle factors can influence a person’s hematocrit levels. For example, males tend to have higher levels than females. Pregnant individuals can experience a decrease in hematocrit levels, and strength training may also reduce levels.
There are also several health conditions that can cause hematocrit levels outside the normal range. Excessive bleeding, thalassemia, and kidney disease are causes of low levels. COPD and sickle cell anemia can cause high levels.
Read this article in Spanish.
What do the results of a clinical blood test say? (continued3)
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- What Clinical Indicators Tell…
- WBC – white blood cells – white blood cells – Leukocytes;
- RBC – red blood cells – red blood cells – Erythrocytes;
- HGB – hemoglobin – Hemoglobin;
- HTC – hematocrit – Hematocrit;
- MCV – mean corpuscular volume – The average volume of erythrocytes;
- MCH – mean concentration hemoglobin – The average content of hemoglobin in an erythrocyte;
- MCHC – mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration – Mean concentration of hemoglobin in an erythrocyte;
- RDW – red cell distribution – Red blood cell distribution index;
- PLT – platelets – platelets;
- MPV – mean platelets volume
- PTC – Thrombocrit – Thrombocrit.
- dehydration;
- peritonitis;
- extensive burns;
- polycythemia.
- anemia and iron deficiency;
- heart diseases;
- vascular and kidney pathologies;
- chronic hyperazotemia – increased nitrogen levels in the blood
- purulent inflammatory diseases;
- severe burns;
- the use of the hormone insulin;
- malignant tumors;
- epilepsy;
- severe poisoning;
- allergies.
- heart attack;
- stroke;
- tuberculosis;
- malignant tumors;
- thyrotoxicosis;
- diabetes mellitus.
- Two weeks before the test, it is important to stop taking medicines for laboratory testing. If the medications taken are vital, then the doctor adjusts the treatment, because some drugs can affect blood parameters.
- The day before the study, alcohol, fatty, spicy and fried foods should be excluded, physical and emotional stress should be avoided, and KLA should not be taken after an x-ray examination, physiotherapy, sunbathing.
- Dinner on the eve of the study no later than 22.00.
- It is advisable to donate blood for general analysis in the morning on an empty stomach. Biological material for both capillary and venous blood can serve. Before this, you can not smoke, drink coffee, tea. Drinking water is allowed in a volume of not more than 0.5 liters. If the analysis is taken during the day, then after the last meal, approximately 5 hours should pass.
- Women, undergoing a routine examination, it is advisable to wait until the end of menstruation with the delivery of the KLA.
- Blood sampling for general analysis in both a child and an adult is almost the same.
9 0017
WE continue to acquaint our readers with the diagnostic value of clinical blood tests – and in the previous article we have already discussed such of them as erythrocytes and hemoglobin.
What other indicators are used along with those indicated to monitor the state of both the blood itself and the body as a whole? Traditionally, we address our question to the head of the clinical diagnostic laboratory of the Floris Medical Center LARISA ROGULSKAYA.
– One of these indicators is hematocrit.
This indicator reflects the volume fraction (%), which is erythrocytes from the total blood volume. Like any other laboratory value, hematocrit must be evaluated in conjunction with other indicators. An incorrect assessment threatens with an erroneous opinion about the patient’s state of health. For example, in a patient in shock, the hematocrit may be normal due to blood clots, but the red blood cell count may be reduced due to blood loss. Therefore, immediately after bleeding or blood transfusion, the hematocrit value is not indicative of the degree of anemia. But such difficulties with interpretation do not at all detract from the value of the hematocrit value in the clinic. Normally, this figure in adult women is 35-47%, in adult men – 39-50%. An increase in the hematocrit value is noted in some malignant blood diseases, it can be observed in congenital heart defects, respiratory failure, some tumors and polycystic kidney disease. Abnormally elevated hematocrit often occurs with burn disease, peritonitis, dehydration of the body as a result of severe diarrhea or vomiting, sometimes with diabetes.
Decreased hematocrit is a common sign of anemia and may occur with uncontrolled intravenous drips.
One of the most important indicators of a clinical blood test related to erythrocytes is ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate). This is an indicator of the rate of separation of blood mixed with a reagent that prevents its coagulation in a thin glass capillary into two layers: a transparent top (blood plasma) and a red-colored bottom (erythrocytes and other blood cells). In fact, how many millimeters the erythrocytes settle within an hour, this will be the ESR indicator.
Healthy adult males have an ESR of 1-10 mm/hour, some up to 15, and men over 50 may have up to 20 mm/hour. Healthy adult women have 215 mm/hour, some have up to 20, and women over 50 may have up to 30 mm/hour. Determination of ESR is a mandatory component of a clinical blood test, performed to detect inflammation of a different nature, and also makes it possible to suspect a tumor process with a high degree of probability, in which the indicator is characterized by consistently high numbers.
ESR values also increase in case of poisoning, acute and chronic infections, including pneumonia, osteomyelitis, tuberculosis, myocardial infarction, joint diseases of various origins, injuries and fractures, conditions after operations, anemia, kidney diseases, as well as when taking certain medications. . A decrease in ESR values (approaching zero) may indicate a dangerous malignant blood disease.
If the determination of the hematocrit value described above is today included in the analytical panel of a modern hematological analyzer, then the measurement of ESR requires the possession of certain practical laboratory skills. In our laboratory, we use world experience, which consists in the use of special disposable blood sampling systems (such as Vacutainer), which already contain the required amount of reagent and vacuum, which allows taking exactly as much venous blood as required for analysis. Thanks to such systems, our specialists avoid possible errors, and therefore the risk of obtaining an incorrect analysis result.
Laboratory doctor at the Floris Medical Center Sergey Dmitruk
Complete blood count | decoding, indicators and norms of the UAC
A general or clinical blood test is a detailed study prescribed by a doctor when a patient contacts and complains of feeling unwell.
Contains information about the nature of hematopoiesis, reflecting the general state of the body, the values of quantitative and qualitative changes in the composition of the blood.
Biochemical results usually make it possible to determine the diagnosis immediately or after additional examinations: ultrasound, X-ray.
Blood transports various substances between tissues, organs and systems, ensuring the unity of the body. Thus, the processes occurring in different tissues and organs are reflected in the state of the blood.
Blood consists of a liquid part – plasma and formed elements – leukocytes, platelets, erythrocytes, each type of which has functions, for example, leukocytes are responsible for protecting immunity, platelets – for clotting, erythrocytes provide the body with oxygen and carbon dioxide.+measures+how+much+space+in+the+blood+is+occupied+by+red+blood+cells..jpg)
Based on the analysis, it is possible to establish possible diseases, in this case the composition of the blood changes. Clinical analysis sometimes allows you to identify the disease at an early stage, when the symptoms of the disease do not even appear. Clinical analysis helps clients understand the course of the disease, determine the intensity of the pathological process, so it is used as a diagnosis of inflammation, allergies, and diseases. A repeated general analysis (CLA) is carried out as prescribed by a doctor in order to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and, if necessary, adjust it. Hematological diseases require a primary study of cells for preventive purposes.
Deciphering the abbreviation of the general blood test
Now the English abbreviation is used on the forms with the results of the KLA, which means:
Indicators of the general blood test
Complete blood count contains mandatory parameters. A pediatrician, therapist or other specialists may refer the patient to an extended clinical blood test, which additionally includes the necessary indicators.
Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin is a protein that is part of the erythrocyte. It delivers oxygen from the lungs, and carbon dioxide, on the contrary, to the lungs. It contains iron, which makes red blood cells red.
Level is a very important indicator. Due to a decrease in its amount, the body receives less oxygen, which is necessary for its life.
For men, it is considered normal – from 130-160 g/l, for women – 120-140 g/l. The saturation of this element in newborn children significantly exceeds the norm in adults.
However, in the first weeks it gradually decreases.
When the hemoglobin value is below normal, then anemia is diagnosed, a low level can also indicate hyperhydration of the body due to increased fluid intake. Elevated hemoglobin can be observed with thickening of the blood due to a violation of the function of coagulation or the use of diuretic drugs. Dehydration of the body can be caused not only by pathology, but also by increased physical exertion or extreme heat. An elevated hemoglobin level is a typical sign of erythremia – impaired blood formation, an increased number of red blood cells. Hemoglobin can also increase due to diseases of the respiratory system against the background of a constant lack of oxygen.
red blood cells
Erythrocytes are red blood cells responsible for metabolic processes. The blood is red in color, due to the high content of red blood cells, compared to other formed elements.
Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, so they are involved in the process of oxygen metabolism in the body.
Norms for men – 4-5 * 1012 per liter of blood, for women – 3.9-4.7 * 1012, which depend on the laboratory.
With anemia, bleeding, pregnancy, hyperhydration, the content of erythrocytes in the blood decreases. Excess, as a rule, indicates erythremia, such tumor formations as a kidney cyst or dropsy of the renal pelvis, dehydration and fluid loss with sweat, vomiting, diarrhea, when the blood thickens.
The average volume of erythrocytes MCV – mean corpuscular volume – the norm for men is 80-95 and for women – 80-100.
The mean concentration of hemoglobin in an erythrocyte MCH – mean concentration hemoglobin – this indicator increases with hypothyroidism, anemia of an autoimmune nature, B12-deficiency anemia, liver pathologies, alcohol dependence, and decreases due to iron deficiency anemia or a decrease in thyroid function.
The average concentration of hemoglobin in erythrocytes MCHC – mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration – an increase in this indicator almost always indicates a hardware error, and its decrease indicates iron deficiency anemia.
Hematocrit
Hematocrit – the ratio of formed elements to the total volume of blood in percent.
An increase in hematocrit occurs as a result of:
A decrease in hematocrit is observed against the background of:
color index
The color index of blood is calculated according to a formula that correlates the level of hemoglobin and the number of red blood cells. Normally, the color index is close to one (0.85-1.05). Anemia leads to a deviation of the indicator.
If the color index is below normal, then this indicates iron deficiency anemia, when hemoglobin is reduced more than the number of red blood cells. Anemia of another type is characterized by a color index above the norm, in this case, the number of red blood cells is reduced more than hemoglobin.
Reticulocytes
Reticulocytes are young, immature erythrocytes, which are always present in the blood, since the process of formation of erythrocytes in the blood is continuous. Norm: 0.2-1% or 2-10 reticulocytes out of 1000 erythrocytes. If reticulocytes are more than normal, then the body feels the need to increase red blood cells, for example, due to large blood loss. In the presence of anemia, radiation sickness, oncology (if metastases have affected the bone marrow), some kidney diseases are characterized by a reduced level of reticulocytes. Determining the RET indication is required for bone marrow transplantation, chemotherapy, as well as for assessing the processes of hematopoiesis, therapy with drugs containing iron, folic acid, vitamin B12, erythropoietin.
platelets
Platelets are responsible for blood clotting. They provide not only hemostasis, but also the body’s immunity during infection. Normal platelet content: 180-320*109 per liter. A decrease in this level may indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the body, an autoimmune disease, leukemia; AIDS, alcohol poisoning, drugs, chemicals, aplastic anemia, bone marrow diseases.
An increase in the level occurs after blood loss and surgery, and is also observed in malignant neoplasms, spleen atrophy, colitis, tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, joint diseases, liver cirrhosis, myelofibrosis.
Leukocytes
Leukocytes are white blood cells that perform a protective function. The norm of their content is in the range of 4-9*109 per litre.
A high level of leukocytes is observed in infectious diseases caused by bacteria, inflammatory processes, allergic reactions.
Their number increases as a result of recent stress, bleeding, as well as due to tumor processes and some other pathologies.
The depressed state of the immune system causes a decrease in leukocytes due to weight loss, severe toxicosis, sepsis, diseases of the hematopoietic organs, radiation sickness, autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency, leukemia, viral infections such as influenza, measles, rubella, as well as due to the use of sulfonamides, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Not only the total number of leukocytes is important, but also their five types – neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and monocytes, which have different functions, so it is important to know their ratio in the blood, that is, the leukocyte formula.
Pathological leukocytosis is observed in:
Neutrophils
Neutrophils are non-specific immune response cells that have bactericidal and detoxifying functions. In the inflammatory process, there is an increase in the number of mature neutrophils that are produced by the bone marrow. First, a myelocyte is formed, which then becomes a metamyelocyte, then the stage of a stab neutrophil begins. A mature neutrophil is segmented. In the normal state of the body, myelocytes and metamyelocytes in the blood should be absent. Segmented neutrophils should make up 47-72% of the total number of leukocytes, and stab – 1-6%. When immunity is weakened, the proportion of stab nuclei increases, in this case the body sends still immature neutrophils to fight the infection. An analysis with such a result is called a stab shift.
Stress, intoxication, inflammation, bacterial infection, cancer also increase the number of neutrophils in the blood.
Eosinophils
Eosinophils neutralize immune complexes caused by a foreign allergen. The norm of eosinophils is 1-5% of the total. An increase in this indicator indicates an allergic reaction or a parasitic infection (primarily an infection with worms).
Basophils
The normal content in the blood is: 0-1% of the total.
Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes are the main cells of the immune system that recognize and destroy the invading agent. This is how the body fights viruses. The normal level of lymphocytes is 19-37% of the total. This figure is higher in children than in adults. At the age of one month to two years, the main type of leukocytes is lymphocytes. By the age of five, the number of leukocytes is already comparable to the number of neutrophils.
Children at the age of 15 still have more lymphocytes than adults.
With a viral infection, with toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, syphilis, an increased content of lymphocytes in the blood is noted. A reduced number of lymphocytes indicates HIV infection and a depressed state of the immune system.
Monocytes
Monocytes stay in the blood for about 30 hours. Then they move from the bloodstream to tissues, where they turn into macrophages in order to finally destroy bacteria and tissues that have died from inflammation. The norm of monocytes is 3-11% of the total. An increased number of monocytes is a specific sign of mononucleosis, and is also characteristic of tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, syphilis, rheumatoid arthritis, indolent and long-term diseases.
ESR – erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Compared to plasma, erythrocytes are a heavier fraction of the blood.
Therefore, when the test tube is vertical, its contents are divided into two parts: in the lower part – thick and dark erythrocytes, and in the upper part – light plasma. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is measured in mm/hour. Norm: for men – 2-10 mm / hour, for women – 2-15 mm / hour. In children, pregnant women and the elderly, normal values are different.
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate increases with an increase in their mass, that is, there is a strong adhesion to each other. The most common cause of such bonding is an inflammatory process. As a rule, the stronger the inflammation, the higher the ESR.
With an increase in ESR, autoimmune diseases occur in the body, blood, liver and biliary tract, and the following diseases can also occur:
Preparing for a complete blood count
If the medications taken are vital, then the doctor adjusts the treatment, because some drugs can affect blood parameters.The procedure for taking the KLA
