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The figure at the beginning of this article is unclear. What part of the two items in the tubes is the hematocrit? Also, there should be some kind of legend or explanation under the figure... --128.227.62.13 (talk)12:40, 28 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

In addition to the gender average we need information on how much normal variation and pathological variations are.—Precedingunsigned comment added by72.194.124.25 (talk)23:24, 27 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]

i love hematocrit.I am changing the the following sentence in the introduction: "The hematocrit is not usually considered an important consideration when looking at a person's full blood count results as most people are more concerned with the hemoglobin concentration and mean cell volume." Since HCT is one of the indicators listed nearly always in CBC results and noted by physicians carefully as a measure of ongoing disease or therapeutic effectiveness. HCT is in fact a very important consideration of a person's health. I have changed this sentence to reflect this fact.Xyp03:07, 6 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

==

The length of the tube containing blood cells, divided by the length containing cells or plasma gives the PCV.This sentence doesn't make sense.--Gbleem03:11, 16 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

The illustration shows the packed cells in brown (at the "bottom" of the tube) and the plasma in yellow (on "top"). The Packed Cell Volume is the length of the brown part divided by the sum of the lengths of brown part and the yellow part. -Nunh-huh05:09, 16 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

If you have more red blood cells because you drew from the arm with the packed blood cells thenwouldn't both the hematocrit and the hemoglobin level go up together? --Gbleem04:35, 16 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Yes. They will both be abnormally high. Similarly, both might be abnormally low if the IV were infusing plasma rather than PRBC. -Nunh-huh05:09, 16 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Or maybe the hemoglobin comes from the arterial draw??--Gbleem04:59, 16 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

No arteries are involved, just veins. -Nunh-huh05:09, 16 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I suspect the article would be clearer if it didn't switch back and forth between discussing hemoglobin and hematocrit. Do you think that's right? -Nunh-huh05:09, 16 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I removed this sentence: "However, the hematocrit gives an indication of how concentrated the red cells are in the blood - this gives an indirect impression of whether the patient is dehydrated and also how relevant the measured hemoglobin level is."

Hematocrit can not give an indication of how hydrated/dehydrated someone is if you don't have a previous reference guide. If you're trying to measure someone's hematocrit overhydration/dehydration can confound results by giving a falsely high/low reading. Likewise red blood cell count and haemaglobin are also altered so comparing hematocrit to hemoglobin doesn't give an idication of hydration as both results are altered by the same amount. In the example given the haemoglobin and hematocrit would rise by the same multiple, thus giving no indication that there was anything wrong other than the fact that it was abnormally high. Maybe it should be removed?

There are no good indications of hydration if you're only taking one discrete sample.

Serrin07:36, 6 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

erm, someone needs to fix the spelling of erythrocytes in the pic.

As I understand it, Hematocrit is one of the telltales that an athlete is using some types of performance enhancing pharmecuticals, or engaging in blood doping. Should this be referenced?—Precedingunsigned comment added byBilljank (talk •contribs)03:57, 30 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Only if the hematocrit is over a certain percentage - 50% for example.—Precedingunsigned comment added by84.70.151.190 (talk)16:37, 25 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I assume the hematocrit must be higher in venous blood than arterial due to fluid leaking into tissues to be drained by the lymphatic system. Is this so, and if it is, shouldn't the article say so?HairyDan (talk)22:33, 5 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Small and insignificant detail but the RPM is not a standard unit, it is dependeble on the dimensions of the rotor of the centrifuge. The standard unit would beg—Precedingunsigned comment added by193.167.195.60 (talk)11:49, 31 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

When I had SRC, my hematocrit dropped below 30. It's not mentioned on the Chronic Kidney Disease page, so, maybe it should be mentioned?JoshNarins (talk)23:13, 21 April 2012 (UTC)[reply]

This wikipedia article now says:

• "While known hematocrit levels are used in detecting conditions, it may fail at times due to hematocrit being the measure of concentration of red blood cells through volume in a blood sample. It does not account for the mass of the red blood cells, and thus the changes in mass can alter a hematocrit level or go undetected while affecting a subject's condition.[13]"

I did not understand and the reference 13 has no internet links, it is a printed book or something like that.

Can you add figures, tables or other explanations?

---8<--8<---

• "Additionally, there have been cases in which the blood for testing was inadvertently drawn proximal to an intravenous line that was infusing packed red cells or fluids. In these situations, the hemoglobin level in the blood sample will not be the true level for the patient because the sample will contain a large amount of the infused material rather than what is diluted into the circulating whole blood. That is, if packed red cells are being supplied, the sample will contain a large amount of those cells and the hematocrit will be artificially very high. On the converse, if saline or other fluids are being supplied, the blood sample would be diluted and the hematocrit will be artificially low".

I understood completely, but it took some time. There are no references, but the sentences make complete sence.

Could you create a table about this?

- Saline or other fluids intravenously => topically lower hemoglobin & hematocrit.

- Red Blood Cells intravenously => topically higher hemoglobin & hematocrit.

--ee1518 (talk)07:59, 27 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

This Wikipedia article now says:

"Typically, a higher hematocrit level signifies the blood sample's ability to transport oxygen,[15] which has led to reports that an "optimal hematocrit level" may exist. Optimal hematocrit levels have been studied through combinations of assays on blood sample's hematocrit itself, viscosity, and hemoglobin level".

How much is the optimal level? How much or low is clearly not optimal for health? You can think about longevity, or quality of life.

--ee1518 (talk)08:04, 27 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

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