Our Hematocrit Main Article provides a comprehensive look at the who, what, when and how of Hematocrit
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:
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: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM Back to MedTerms online medical dictionary A-Z List 
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