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Hematocrit
01
a measuring instrument to determine (usually by centrifugation) the relative amounts of corpuscles and plasma in the blood
02
a measure of the percentage of red blood cells in the total volume of blood, indicating its oxygen-carrying capacity
What is "hematocrit"?
Hematocrit is the measurement that shows what proportion of blood is made up of red blood cells. It is shown as a percentage, representing how much of the total blood volume is made up of red blood cells. For example, if the hematocrit level is 45%, this means that 45% of the blood’s volume is red blood cells, with the rest being plasma and other components. This test helps evaluate overall blood health and can be useful in diagnosing conditions like anemia or polycythemia.
Example
Iron deficiency can affect hematocrit.
The doctor checked my hematocrit for anemia.
High hematocrit can indicate dehydration.
Athletes may have slightly higher hematocrit.
