Packed cell volume (pcv) &

blood indices

By
Mardeen farooq
Shang xalid
Karez abdulkhalq
Packed cell volume of whole blood
 Hematocrit is difined as the volume
accupied by erythrocytes in given volume
of the whole blood sample
 The hematocrit may also be referred to as
packed cell
volume (PCV)
 Prenciple:
-Hematocrit is usually determined by spined a
blood-filled capillary tube in a centrifuge

 Specimen:
-Venous blood anticoagulated with EDTA or
capillary blood collected directly into
heparinized capillary tubes can be used.
Specimens should be centrifuged within 6
houeres of collection
-Hemolized samples cannot be used for testing
 Reagents and equipment
 Capillary tubes,hiparinized for finger sticks
(red tip) or plain for anticoagulated blood
(blue tip)
 Clay-type tube sealant
 Microhematocrit centrifuge
 Microhematocrit reader
 procedure
1. Fill two capillary tubes approximately three
quarters full with blood anti-coagulated with
EDTA or heparin. Alternatively, blood for
heparinized capillary tubes may be collected
by capillary puncture. Wipe any excess blood
from the outside of the tube
2. Seal the end of the tube with the colored ring
with nonabsorbent clay
3. Balance the tubes in the centrifuge with the
clay ends facing the outside away from the
center, touching the rubber gasket .
4. Tighten the head cover on the centrifuge and
close the top. Activate the centrifuge for 5
minutes between 10,000 and 15,000rpm
5. Determine the HCT by using a microhematocrit
reading device Read the level of RBC
packing; do not include the buffy coat
(leukocytes and platelets when reading.
 Hematocrit reader
 Reference ranges:


Newborn 53-65%
 Infant/child 30-43%
 Adult male 42-52%

Adult female 37-47%
 High Hematocrit Level
Some factors may cause a rise in
hematocrit value such as:
• Polycythemia
• Heart or kidney problems
• Intake of anabolic steroids
• Dehydration
• Diarehea
• Lung problems
• Burns
• Smoking
• High altitudes
 Low Hematocrit Levels
The most common symptoms of low hematocrit levels
are:fatique,weakness,dizziness.Low hemoglobin levels
and pregnancy is commonly associated with a
decreased hematocrit range.
Other causes are:
• Anemia
• Hemolysis
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Bleeding
• Renal failure
• Pregnancy
• Medications
 Sources of error
1. Improper sealing of the capillary tube.

2. An increased amount of anti-coagulant .

3.The time and speed of the centrifugation

and the time when the results are read
are very important.
4. If too much time elapses between when the
centrifuge stops and the capillary tube is
removed.

5. The buffy coat of the specimen should not be

included in the Hct reading.

6. A decrease or increase in the readings may be

seen if the microhematocrit reader is not used
properly.
7. A number of disorders such as:

Sickle cell anemia
 Macrocytic anemia's

 Hypochromic anemia's


Spherocytosis

Talassemia
may cause plasma to be trapped in the
erythrocytes even if the procedure was
performed properly.
Red blood cell
indices
 Red blood cell indices (RBC) indices are
part of the complete blood count (CBC) test.
They are used to diagnose the cause of anemia
, a condition which there are too few red blood
cells

 are measurements that describe the size and

oxygencarrying protein (hemoglobin) content of
red blood cells.
 The relationships between the hematocrit, the
hemoglobin level, and the RBC are converted
to red blood cell indices through mathematical
formulas

 The indices include these measurements:

mean corpuscular volume
(MCV) . mean corpuscular hemoglobin
(MCH) . mean corpuscular hemoglobin
concentration (MCHC).
 Mean corpusculer volume (MCV)
 The MCV is the average volume of the
RBC in femtoliters (fL), or 10^-15L:
 MCV = Hct (%) X 10 / RBC count (10 -12/L).

 Cells of normal size (MCV is 80-100fL) are

called normocytic, smaller cells are
microcytic, and larger cells are macrocytic
 Mean corpusculer hemoglobin
(MCH)
 The MCH is the average weight of Hb in
an RBC, expressed in the units of
picograms (pg), or 10^-12g:
 MCH = Hb (g/dL) X 10 / RBC count (1012/L).
 The reference range for adults is 28-32pg.
 The MCH is not generally considered in
the classification of anemia's.
 Mean corpusculer hemoglobin
concentration (MCHC)
 The MCHC is the average concentration
of Hb in each individual erythrocyte.
 units used are gram per deciliter (formerly
referred to as a percentage).
 MCHC = Hb (g/dL) X 100 / Hct (%).

 Values of normochromic cells range from

32 to 37g/dL.
 Hypochromic cells are less than 32g/dL, and
those of hyperchromic cells are greater than
37g/dL.
 Hypochromic erythrocytes occur in
thalassemia and iron deficiency.
 Because there is a physical limit to the
amount of hemoglobin that can fit in a cell,
there is no hyperchromic category, a cell does
not really contain more than 37g/dL of Hb, but
its shape may have become spherocytic,
making the cell appear full.
Thank you
^__^