Hematocrit is elevated - how is this indicator determined and what does it mean

When we do a blood test, we are undoubtedly attracted by figures and words written on a leaflet issued by a doctor. What do they mean? For example, hematocrit - what is it?

The word "hematocrit" has two meanings. On the one hand, this is a device that measures the hematocrit score, on the other hand it is the indicator itself, which will tell a lot about the patient's condition for doctors.

The indicator of hematocrit is the ratio of blood elements (mostly erythrocytes) to its plasma. Since both one and the second index are measured in this case in liters, then the value of the hematocrit will be liter per liter.

The method of determining the hematocrit indicator consists in the separation of erythrocytes from the blood plasma. This is done by centrifugation. In this case, the centrifuge with the cones of blood spins at a great speed, which leads to the settling of various blood elements in different places, depending on how they have mass and density. Determine the hematocrit indicator in a test tube (pipette), which is divided into one hundred divisions.

Before taking the blood for analysis, the tube is washed with a special solution. Then the blood is taken, it should be at around one hundred. The rubber capsule is closed and placed in a centrifuge for ninety minutes at a centrifuge speed of one and a half thousand. During this time, the erythrocytes under pressure of their mass are sorted out and constitute a certain part in the test tube. After the device has completed its work, the lab technician takes out the cone and determines - at what mark the red blood cells stopped. The resulting number will be the indicator of the hematocrit.

The analysis for the determination of hematocrit is rather difficult in view of the fact that there is a risk of obtaining a false number. During the research it was found that the hematocrit depends on how the blood is taken. For example, if the blood is taken in the patient's lying position, then the hematocrit can be lowered. If the hematocrit is elevated, then it can signal that the taking of blood was accompanied by a prolonged vein squeezing the tourniquet.

Hematocrit is measured in almost all patients. However, it is worth considering that this indicator only quantitatively determines erythrocytes, in no way reflecting their quality. But even such figures may well tell doctors about some important deviations in the patient's health. Usually, with good health, the hematocrit indicator does not depend on the external environment, so it can stay on the same level for many years. For the sake of fairness, we note that the hematocrit can only rise when the altitude changes (for example, climbers, deep-water divers)

This indicator is different for different sexes. For example, in men compared with women hematocrit is increased - from forty to fifty-two percent (liter per liter is multiplied by one hundred and is obtained as a percentage). At women it makes from thirty to forty two percent. Hematocrit is also different in children. Usually in newborns, it is ten percent higher, and at a younger age - lower. Such indicators are completely physiological and do not cause fear. But what to do if the hematocrit is elevated? What does this mean?

The increase in hematocrit may be due to several factors. First of all, this increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood. Secondly, the hematocrit can be increased if the erythrocytes are produced too intensively by the body. Thirdly, some diseases, such as hypoxia, heart defects, intestinal obstruction, dehydration, kidney diseases can cause the hematocrit to be elevated.

In turn, the indicator can shift and in the lower side - this occurs with significant blood loss, with excessively drunk water, with bone marrow disruption , anemia and pregnancy in later periods.