Practical

physiology
Dr. Ramadan Mohamed
Ahmed

Practical Haematology

Packed Cell Volume P.C.V.

(Haematocrit) and
Blood indices

HAEMATOCRIT VALUE (ratio)

(HV)
Packed cell volume (PCV)
It

is a percentage ratio
of red blood corpuscles
in blood

Normally,

the H.V is
47% for adult male,
42% for adult female

Capillary tube

Haematocrite value

PCV (HCt)
Principle:
A volume of uncoagulated blood is
centrifuged at high speed in a capillary
tube. The level of packed cell is read
directly from the graphic reader,
reader and the
reading is expressed as a percentage (%).
(%)

PCV (Hct)

Procedure:
Fill a heparinized capillary tube with blood to about
80 % of its length.
Seal one end of the capillary tube with sealing clay.
Place the capillary tube in a high speed centrifuge.
The sealed end should be kept outside.
Place the cover of the centrifuge and begin
centrifugation for (3-5) min.
Read the percentage of packed cells directly from
the graphic reader.

Haematocrite reader

Interpretation of HV

Determine haematocrite
value

PCV (Hct)
PCV is seen in: dehydration, and
polycythemia.
PCV is seen in anaemia

PCV (Hct.)
- Normal (PCV) values:

- adult male = 47 5 %
- adult female = 42 5 %

Interpretation of HV

HV increased in polycythemia &

.dehydration

HV decreased in anaemia &

.overhydration

ERYTHROPOIESIS

Anaemia
Decreased Hb, or number of
RBCs, or both

Causes of
anaemia
A- Deficiency Anaemias
.I- iron deficiency anaemia
.II. pernicious anaemia
B- Hemolytic Anaemia
)anemia due to excessive blood destruction(
hemolytic, anemia due to congenital abnormalities of- 1
erythrocyte
hemolytic anemia due to infective or toxic factors- 2
hemolytic anemia due to erythrocyte antibodies- 3
C- Aplastic Anemia
)anemia due to damage of bone marrow(
primary (idiopathic)
2- secondary- 1

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