If you need to know which are the hematocrit reference ranges or you require more information about the role of hematocrit in the blood, you can visit normal hematocrit level in the blood
Hematocrit (HCT), also known as PCV (packed cell volume), measures the percentage of red blood cells in the blood plasma. A percentage higher than normal may be due to:
A high hematocrit percentage increases the sport performance. For that reason, in some sports such as cycling or swimming it was used EPO (erythropoietin) illegally to increase hematocrit. However, it was very dangerous because in case of dehydration, it may further increase the viscosity of the blood and cause cardiovascular disorders.
Polyglobulia or a high hematocrit percentage in the blood means:
There is a mild polyglobulia where hematocrit is a bit higher than normal range.
It may be due to high-altitude, tobacco or some drugs, but it is necessary to exclude the possibility of polycythemia vera.
A moderate polyglobulia is usually related to polycythemia vera, especially if hemoglobin levels are also high.
In 4 out of 5 cases of polycythemia vera, hematocrit percentage is over 55%.
You should visit your doctor and it is recommended that you donate blood to reduce the hematocrit as a preventive treatment.
A severe polyglobulia requires immediate medical attention. It may be due to a patient with severe polycythemia vera or a severe burn.
The amount of RBCs is so high that it may increase the viscosity of the blood and it may appear cardiovascular problems.
A hematocrit level over 65% in women and 70% in men increase significantly the risk of a heart failure.
There are some health circumstances or drugs than can raise your hematocrit percentage in the blood:
There are different diseases why the hematocrit percentage in the blood can be higher than normal:
If your hematocrit percentage is a bit high, you may donate blood or perform phlebotomy (removal of blood from your vein). With these procedures, you may lower your hematocrit and at the same time, you can help other people with your blood.
Besides, you should avoid tobacco and a follow a proper hydration (adequate intake of water and liquids).
You can visit our pages about:
The following values are considered to be above the normal range:
IMPORTANT: These levels are expressed in percentage. They are an example of a healthy woman of about 45 years old with no known disease and not taking any medication. The ranges can be different depending on the laboratory or on your personal circumstances.
Hematocrit | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mild polyglobulia | |||||||
| 48.1 % | 48.2 % | 48.3 % | 48.4 % | 48.5 % | 48.6 % | 48.7 % | 48.8 % |
| 48.9 % | 49 % | 49.1 % | 49.2 % | 49.3 % | 49.4 % | 49.5 % | 49.6 % |
| 49.7 % | 49.8 % | 49.9 % | 50 % | 50.1 % | 50.2 % | 50.3 % | 50.4 % |
| 50.5 % | 50.6 % | 50.7 % | 50.8 % | 50.9 % | 51 % | 51.1 % | 51.2 % |
| 51.3 % | 51.4 % | 51.5 % | 51.6 % | 51.7 % | 51.8 % | 51.9 % | 52 % |
| 52.1 % | 52.2 % | 52.3 % | 52.4 % | 52.5 % | 52.6 % | 52.7 % | 52.8 % |
| 52.9 % | 53 % | 53.1 % | 53.2 % | 53.3 % | 53.4 % | 53.5 % | 53.6 % |
| 53.7 % | 53.8 % | 53.9 % | 54 % | ||||
| Moderate polyglobulia | |||||||
| 54.1 % | 54.2 % | 54.3 % | 54.4 % | 54.5 % | 54.6 % | 54.7 % | 54.8 % |
| 54.9 % | 55 % | 55.1 % | 55.2 % | 55.3 % | 55.4 % | 55.5 % | 55.6 % |
| 55.7 % | 55.8 % | 55.9 % | 56 % | 56.1 % | 56.2 % | 56.3 % | 56.4 % |
| 56.5 % | 56.6 % | 56.7 % | 56.8 % | 56.9 % | 57 % | 57.1 % | 57.2 % |
| 57.3 % | 57.4 % | 57.5 % | 57.6 % | 57.7 % | 57.8 % | 57.9 % | 58 % |
| 58.1 % | 58.2 % | 58.3 % | 58.4 % | 58.5 % | 58.6 % | 58.7 % | 58.8 % |
| 58.9 % | 59 % | 59.1 % | 59.2 % | 59.3 % | 59.4 % | 59.5 % | 59.6 % |
| 59.7 % | 59.8 % | 59.9 % | 60 % | ||||
| Severe polyglobulia | |||||||
| 60.1 % | 60.2 % | 60.3 % | 60.4 % | 60.5 % | 60.6 % | 60.7 % | 60.8 % |
| 60.9 % | 61 % | 61.1 % | 61.2 % | 61.3 % | 61.4 % | 61.5 % | 61.6 % |
| 61.7 % | 61.8 % | 61.9 % | 62 % | 62.1 % | 62.2 % | 62.3 % | 62.4 % |
| 62.5 % | 62.6 % | 62.7 % | 62.8 % | 62.9 % | 63 % | 63.1 % | 63.2 % |
| 63.3 % | 63.4 % | 63.5 % | 63.6 % | 63.7 % | 63.8 % | 63.9 % | 64 % |
| 64.1 % | 64.2 % | 64.3 % | 64.4 % | 64.5 % | 64.6 % | 64.7 % | 64.8 % |
| 64.9 % | 65 % | 65.1 % | 65.2 % | 65.3 % | 65.4 % | 65.5 % | 65.6 % |
| 65.7 % | 65.8 % | 65.9 % | 66 % | 66.1 % | 66.2 % | 66.3 % | 66.4 % |
| 66.5 % | 66.6 % | 66.7 % | 66.8 % | 66.9 % | 67 % | 67.1 % | 67.2 % |
| 67.3 % | 67.4 % | 67.5 % | 67.6 % | 67.7 % | 67.8 % | 67.9 % | 68 % |
| 68.1 % | 68.2 % | 68.3 % | 68.4 % | 68.5 % | 68.6 % | 68.7 % | 68.8 % |
| 68.9 % | 69 % | 69.1 % | 69.2 % | 69.3 % | 69.4 % | 69.5 % | 69.6 % |
| 69.7 % | 69.8 % | 69.9 % | 70 % | 70.1 % | 70.2 % | 70.3 % | 70.4 % |
| 70.5 % | 70.6 % | 70.7 % | 70.8 % | 70.9 % | 71 % | 71.1 % | 71.2 % |
| 71.3 % | 71.4 % | 71.5 % | 71.6 % | 71.7 % | 71.8 % | 71.9 % | 72 % |
| 72.1 % | 72.2 % | 72.3 % | 72.4 % | 72.5 % | 72.6 % | 72.7 % | 72.8 % |
| 72.9 % | 73 % | 73.1 % | 73.2 % | 73.3 % | 73.4 % | 73.5 % | 73.6 % |
| 73.7 % | 73.8 % | 73.9 % | 74 % | 74.1 % | 74.2 % | 74.3 % | 74.4 % |
| 74.5 % | 74.6 % | 74.7 % | 74.8 % | 74.9 % | 75 % | 75.1 % | 75.2 % |
| 75.3 % | 75.4 % | 75.5 % | 75.6 % | 75.7 % | 75.8 % | 75.9 % | 76 % |
| 76.1 % | 76.2 % | 76.3 % | 76.4 % | 76.5 % | 76.6 % | 76.7 % | 76.8 % |
| 76.9 % | 77 % | 77.1 % | 77.2 % | 77.3 % | 77.4 % | 77.5 % | 77.6 % |
| 77.7 % | 77.8 % | 77.9 % | 78 % | 78.1 % | 78.2 % | 78.3 % | 78.4 % |
| 78.5 % | 78.6 % | 78.7 % | 78.8 % | 78.9 % | 79 % | 79.1 % | 79.2 % |
| 79.3 % | 79.4 % | 79.5 % | 79.6 % | 79.7 % | 79.8 % | 79.9 % | 80 % |
Show more