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Results
By Mayo Clinic staffResults from your hematocrit are reported as the percentage of blood cells that are red blood cells. The normal range is 38.8 to 50 percent for men and 34.9 to 44.5 percent for women. The normal range for children 15 years of age and younger varies by age and sex. The lower and upper thresholds for a normal hematocrit value may vary somewhat from one medical practice to another.
The result of your hematocrit test is just one piece of information that helps your doctor assess your health. Talk to your doctor about what your hematocrit test result means in light of the symptoms you're experiencing and the results of other diagnostic tests.
Accuracy of test results
A number of conditions can affect the outcome of a hematocrit test and yield inaccurate or misleading results. These complicating factors include:
- Living at a high altitude
- Pregnancy
- Significant recent blood loss
- Recent blood transfusion
- Severe dehydration
Your doctor will take into account possible complicating factors when interpreting the results of your hematocrit test. Your doctor may want to repeat the hematocrit test and do other blood tests if results provide conflicting or unexpected information.
- Fischbach FT, et al. Blood studies: Hematology and coagulation. In: Fischbach FT, et al. A Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004. http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&NEWS=N&PAGE=booktext&D=books&AN=00140036/7th_Edition/11&XPATH=/OVIDBOOK%5b1%5d/METADATA%5b1%5d/TBY%5b1%5d/EDITORS%5b1%5d. Accessed Dec. 13, 2010.
- Hematocrit. Lab Tests Online. http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/hematocrit/test.html. Accessed Dec. 13, 2010.
- Vajpayee N, et al. Basic examination of blood and bone marrow. In: McPherson RA, et al. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 21st ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B1-4160-0287-1..50033-1--cesec2&isbn=1-4160-0287-1&sid=1095295726&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B1-4160-0287-1..50033-1--cesec23&uniqId=230035913-3#4-u1.0-B1-4160-0287-1..50033-1--cesec23. Accessed Dec. 13, 2010.
- Laboratory reference values. Hematocrit. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2010.
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