Definition of Hematocrit
Hematocrit: The proportion of the blood that
consists of packed red blood cells. The hematocrit is expressed as a
percentage by volume. The red cells are packed by centrifugation.
For example, an hematocrit of 25% means that there are 25
milliliters of red blood cells in 100 milliliters of blood. The red cells make up a quarter of the blood.
The normal ranges for the hematocrit are dependant on the age and, after adolescence, the sex of the individual. The normal ranges for the hematocrit are:
- Newborns: 55-68%
- One (1) week of age: 47-65%
- One (1) month of age: 37-49%
- Three (3) months of age: 30-36%
- One (1) year of age: 29-41%
- Ten (10) years of age: 36-40%
- Adult males: 42-54%
- Adult women: 38-46%
These values may vary slightly between laboratories.
The term "hematocrit" was coined in 1903 and comes from the Greek roots hemat-, blood + krites, judge = to judge or gauge the blood. The abbreviation for hematocrit is hct. In medical slang the hematocrit is called the crit.
Last Editorial Review: 3/13/2001Common Misspellings: hemocrit, hemacrit
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