HCT Calculator

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What is HCT and Why Should You Care?

Hematocrit (HCT) is a measure of the proportion of your blood that is made up of red blood cells. Your red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. If there's something off with your hematocrit levels, it could be a sign of various health conditions, from anemia to dehydration.

How to Calculate HCT

Calculating your hematocrit requires two values from your blood test: the red blood cell percentage and the mean corpuscular volume (MCV).

The formula for calculating hematocrit is:

[\text{Hematocrit (HCT)} = \frac{\text{Red Blood Cell Percentage} \times \text{Mean Corpuscular Volume}}{10}]

Where:

  • Red Blood Cell Percentage is the percentage of red blood cells in your blood
  • Mean Corpuscular Volume is the average size of your red blood cells, usually measured in femtoliters (fL)

Calculation Example

Suppose your blood test results show a red blood cell percentage of 45% and a mean corpuscular volume of 90 fL.

First, plug the values into the formula:

[\text{Hematocrit (HCT)} = \frac{45 \times 90}{10}]

Next, do the multiplication:

[45 \times 90 = 4050]

Then, divide by 10:

[\frac{4050}{10} = 405]

So, your hematocrit is 40.5%.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hematocrit measures the proportion of your blood made up of red blood cells. It helps assess overall health and can indicate conditions like anemia or dehydration.

Hematocrit is calculated by multiplying the red blood cell percentage by the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and dividing by 10.

Normal hematocrit ranges are typically 38-50% for men and 36-44% for women, though values can vary based on age and other factors.

Low hematocrit may indicate anemia or blood loss, while high hematocrit can suggest dehydration or certain blood disorders. Consult a healthcare provider for proper interpretation.