How Do You Read Hematocrit Blood Test Results For Arthritis?
The hematocrit (HCT) is a measurement of the number and size of red blood cells that make up the blood volume. An HCT is reported as a percentage of red blood cells in whole blood. It is usually done as part of a routine diagnostic CBC (complete blood count), or it may be requested as indicated by symptoms of chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Consider the normal results in general for men to be between 41 and 52 percent. For women, normal is between 35 and 47 percent. These are general measures because labs will read the results differently. Other factors such as altitude and health issues, including rheumatoid arthritis, must be taken into consideration. Determine the percentage of red blood cells in the total blood volume by using an automated machine. Many of the blood tests are fully automated. The results are read based on the amount of hemoglobin and the average volume of red blood cells rather than directly measuring the hematocrit. Choose to use a manual method kno
