If results provide conflicting or unexpected information, they may want to repeat the hematocrit test and do other blood tests. Your health care team will consider possible complicating factors when interpreting the results of your hematocrit test. Severe dehydration may raise hematocrit.Recent blood transfusion may raise hematocrit.Recent loss of a lot of blood lowers hematocrit.Living at a high altitude increases hematocrit.There are some situations when hematocrit is not in the typical range but it does not mean a person is sick. Accuracy of test resultsĪ number of factors can affect the outcome of a hematocrit test. Talk to your health care team about what your hematocrit test result means. Your hematocrit test provides just one piece of information about your health. Generally, a typical range is considered to be:įor children ages 15 and younger, the typical range varies by age and sex. This is because laboratories decide what is a healthy range based on the population in their area. The definition of typical red-blood cell percentage also may vary somewhat from one medical practice to another. Typical ranges vary substantially with race, age and sex. Results from your hematocrit test are reported as the percentage of blood cells that are red blood cells. You may feel some tenderness at the site, but you'll be able to resume normal activities afterward. The blood sample is generally drawn with a needle from a vein in your arm. You won't need to fast before the test or make other preparations. Your health care provider can tell you what your complete blood count results mean.The hematocrit is a simple blood test. A platelet count that's outside the typical range will likely lead to more tests to diagnose the cause. Either can be a sign of a medical condition or a side effect from medicine. If it's higher than usual, it's known as thrombocytosis. A platelet count that's lower than usual is known as thrombocytopenia. A high white blood cell count also can be a reaction to medicines or hard exercise. Or it could point to an immune system disorder or a bone marrow disease. Certain medicines also can cause a drop in white blood cell counts.Ī white blood cell count that's higher than usual most commonly is due to an infection or inflammation. A medical condition such as an autoimmune disorder that destroys white blood cells, bone marrow problems or cancer might be the cause. A low white blood cell count is known as leukopenia. A high red blood cell count or high hemoglobin or hematocrit levels could point to a medical condition such as blood cancer or heart disease. These symptoms may be due to the anemia itself or the cause of anemia.Ī red blood cell count that's higher than usual is known as erythrocytosis. People with anemia might feel weak or tired. They include low levels of certain vitamins or iron, blood loss, or another medical condition. Lower than usual measures in these three areas are a sign of anemia. The results of these three are related because they each measure a feature of red blood cells. Red blood cell count, hemoglobin and hematocrit. Results in the following areas above or below the typical ranges on a complete blood count might point to a problem. In some cases, for results that are way above or below the expected ranges, a health care provider might ask you to see a doctor who treats blood disorders, called a hematologist. But for someone having cancer treatment, the results of a CBC outside the expected range might signal a need to change the treatment. A health care provider might need to look at the results of other tests as well as the results of a CBC.įor example, results slightly outside the typical range on a CBC might not be of concern for someone who's healthy and has no symptoms of illness. Results outside the expected range may or may not need follow-up. Male: 4.35 trillion to 5.65 trillion cells/Lįemale: 3.92 trillion to 5.13 trillion cells/LĪ complete blood count, also called a CBC, usually doesn't give all the answers about a diagnosis. The blood is measured in cells per liter (cells/L) or grams per deciliter (grams/dL). The following are expected complete blood count results for adults. After the test, you can return to your usual activities right away. What you can expectįor a complete blood count, a member of the health care team takes a sample of blood by putting a needle into a vein in your arm, usually at the bend in your elbow. Ask your health care provider what you need to do. If your blood sample also will be used for other tests, you might need to fast for a certain amount of time before the test. If your blood sample is being tested only for a complete blood count, you can eat and drink as usual before the test.
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