Hematocrit (Hct) Lab Values
Jun 19, 2023•5 min
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Episode description
Overview
- Hematocrit
- Normal Value Range
- Pathophysiology
- Special considerations
- Elevations in lab results
- Decreased HCT levels
- Normal value range
- HCT measured in percentage
- Males – 41-50%
- Females – 36-44%
- Pathophysiology
- Measurement of total pRBCs compared to rest of blood volume
- Helps to indicate anemia
- Often measured with HGB (hemoglobin)
- Special considerations
- Lavender top tube (EDTA)
- Be cautious with technique
- Do not force sample into tube
- Can cause hemolysis
- Alters results
- Causes of HCT elevation
- Dehydration
- Change in % compared to total blood volume
- Respiratory disease
- COPD
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Increased need for oxygen -> increased need for RBC production
- Polycythemia vera
- RBC overproduction due to bone marrow cancer
- Treatment includes bloodletting and increasing water consumption (also some medications)
- Dehydration
- Causes of decreased HCT
- Blood loss
- Trauma
- Hemorrhage
- Treatment
- Stop bleeding
- Transfuse blood
- Anemia
- Kidney disease
- Decrease in EPO production
- Treatment
- Supplement with EPO
- Pregnancy
- Relative to increase total blood volume
- Kidney disease
- Leukemia
- Decreased bone marrow production causes ↓ RBC
- Treat leukemia via oncology pathways
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- Bone marrow transplant
- Blood loss
- Assess for signs of anemia
- Tachycardia
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Decreased SaO2
- Pallor
- Blood transfusions as necessary
- Treat primary cause of anemia
- Use oncologic methods to treat leukemia
- Bloodletting (phlebotomy) for polycythemia patients
- Lab Values
- Oxygenation
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