Hematocrit

Aliases: HCT, packed cell volume, PCV

Group: Complete blood count

Description:

The hematocrit test measures the amount of blood consisting of red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Other parts of the blood include white blood cells (which help fight infections), platelets (which help form blood clots to stop bleeding) and a liquid called plasma. Hematocrit levels that are too high or too low can be a sign of a blood disorder, dehydration, or other medical conditions that affect the blood.