Hematocrit Ranges and Chart: Test, High, Low, and Normal

The hematocrit is the proportion of the blood volume that consists of red blood cells.Source: Getty Images

What is the hematocrit?

The hematocrit is the proportion, by volume, of the blood that consists of red blood cells. The hematocrit (hct) is expressed as a percentage. For example, a hematocrit of 25% means that there are 25 milliliters of red blood cells in 100 milliliters of blood.

How is the hematocrit measured?

The hematocrit is typically measured from a blood sample by an automated machine that makes several other measurements of the blood at the same time. Most of these machines in fact do not directly measure the hematocrit, but instead calculate it based on the determination of the amount of hemoglobin and the average volume of the red blood cells. The hematocrit can also be determined by a manual method using a centrifuge. When a tube of blood is centrifuged, the red cells will be packed into the bottom of the tube. The proportion of red cells to the total blood volume can then be visually measured.

Hematocrit (Hct) Levels

This is the ratio of the volume of red cells to the volume of whole blood. Normal range for hematocrit is different between the sexes and is approximately 45% to 52% for men and 37% to 48% for women. This is usually measured by spinning down a sample of blood in a test tube, which causes the red blood cells to pack at the bottom of the tube.

Learn more about complete blood count (CBC) »

The normal hematocrit ranges by age chartSource: Getty Images

What is a normal hematocrit ranges by ages?

The normal ranges for hematocrit are depended on the age after adolescence and the sex of the individual. The normal hematocrit ranges by age chart is shown here:

These values may vary slightly among different laboratories.

Common causes of anemia are loss of blood, nutritional deficiency, bone marrow problems, chemotherapy drugs, and abnormal hemoglobin.Source: iStock

What does a low hematocrit mean?

A person who has a low hematocrit is referred to as being anemic. There are many reasons for anemia. Some of the more common reasons are

• loss of blood (traumatic injury, surgery, bleeding, and colon cancer),
• nutritional deficiency (iron, vitamin B12, folate),
• bone marrow problems (replacement of bone marrow by cancer,
• suppression by chemotherapy drugs, kidney failure), and
• abnormal hemoglobin (sickle cell anemia).

Abnormal hematocrit levels represent abnormally elevated red blood cell counts.Source: iStock

What does a high hematocrit mean?

Higher than normal hematocrit levels represent abnormally elevated red blood cell counts.

• High hematocrits can be seen in people living at high altitudes and in chronic smokers.
• Dehydration produces a falsely high hematocrit that disappears when the proper fluid balance is restored.

Some other infrequent causes of an elevated hematocrit are

• lung disease,
• certain tumors,
• a disorder of the bone marrow known as polycythemia rubra vera, and
• abuse of the drug erythropoietin (Epogen) by athletes for "blood doping" purposes.