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Hematocrit

A hematocrit test is a blood test that measures the amount (percent) of your blood that is made up of red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. The other parts of your blood include white blood cells (to help fight infection and other diseases), platelets (to help make blood clots to stop bleeding), and a liquid called plasma.

A hematocrit (HCT) test is often part of a complete blood count (CBC). A CBC is a common blood test that measures the number and type of cells in your blood. It is used to check your general health. It may also be used to monitor or help diagnose blood disorders. These could include anemia, a condition in which you don't have enough red blood cells, and polycythemia (erythrocytosis), an uncommon disorder in which you have too many red blood cells and your blood becomes too thick.

Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine

Normal range

42 published ranges, each from a named source
Female
35.5–47 % (varies by lab)ABIM 37–47 · Mayo 35.5–44.9 %
Male
38.3–50 % (varies by lab)ABIM 42–50 · Mayo 38.3–48.6 %
Ranges from American Board of Internal Medicine (Laboratory Test Reference Ranges), Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog), Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog).

All 42 source ranges
SourceSexAgeRange
American Board of Internal Medicine (Laboratory Test Reference Ranges) Female all ages 37–47 %
American Board of Internal Medicine (Laboratory Test Reference Ranges) Male all ages 42–50 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female all ages 35.5–44.9 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female all ages 35.5–44.9 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female ≤ 14 d 39.6–57.2 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female ≤ 14 d 39.6–57.2 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 15 d – 28 d 32–44.5 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 15 d – 28 d 32–44.5 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 1 mo – 2 mo 27.7–35.1 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 1 mo – 2 mo 27.7–35.1 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 2 mo – 5 mo 29.5–37.1 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 2 mo – 5 mo 29.5–37.1 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 6 mo – 2 y 30.9–37.9 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 6 mo – 2 y 30.9–37.9 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 2 y – 3 y 31.2–37.8 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 2 y – 3 y 31.2–37.8 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 3 y – 7 y 34–42 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 3 y – 7 y 34–42 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 8 y – 17 y 35–43 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 8 y – 17 y 35–43 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male all ages 38.3–48.6 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male all ages 38.3–48.6 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male ≤ 14 d 39.8–53.6 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male ≤ 14 d 39.8–53.6 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 15 d – 28 d 30.5–45 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 15 d – 28 d 30.5–45 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 1 mo – 2 mo 26.8–37.5 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 1 mo – 2 mo 26.8–37.5 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 2 mo – 5 mo 28.6–37.2 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 2 mo – 5 mo 28.6–37.2 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 6 mo – 2 y 30.8–37.8 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 6 mo – 2 y 30.8–37.8 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 2 y – 3 y 31–37.7 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 2 y – 3 y 31–37.7 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 3 y – 7 y 34–42 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 3 y – 7 y 34–42 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 8 y – 11 y 35–43 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 8 y – 11 y 35–43 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 12 y – 15 y 38–47 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 12 y – 15 y 38–47 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 16 y – 17 y 40–50 %
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 16 y – 17 y 40–50 %

What an abnormal result can be associated with

A high result
Increased hematocrit
A low result
Reduced hematocrit
Associations from LOINC2HPO (Human Phenotype Ontology). This is reference information, not a diagnosis — only a clinician can interpret your result in context.
details
Sample
Whole blood · LOINC
Part of
CBC W Differential panel, method unspecified · Hemoglobin and Hematocrit panel
Code
LOINC 20570-8 · %
Also known as
Discocyte, Erc, Red blood cell, Red cell, Red cells
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