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Re‐assessment of the Reliability of the Haematocrit
Author(s) -
England J. M.,
Walford D. M.,
Waters D. A. W.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1972.tb03477.x
Subject(s) - mean corpuscular volume , plasma volume , normal values , chemistry , red cell , medicine , hematocrit
S ummary . Significant quantities of plasma are trapped between the centrifuged red cells in the microhaematocrit. This produces a falsely high haematocrit and mean corpuscular volume, and a falsely low mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration. Trapped plasma accounts for approximately 3% of the normal red‐cell column. Slightly higher values are found in macrocytic anaemias, but values as high as 5–6% may be found in the hypochromic anaemias, and even over 20% in sickled samples of blood. It is suggested that automatic blood counters of the Coulter S type be set to record a true haematocrit without trapped plasma. This value is 1 1/2% less than the microhaematocrit value with normal blood. Absolute values in normal subjects under these conditions are reported.