HEMATOCRIT 0000509

The hematocrit is used to determine the proportion of your blood that is made up of red blood cells (RBCs), thus to screen for, help diagnose, or monitor conditions that affect RBCs. This test is also used as part of a routine health examination or if your doctor suspects that you have anemia or polycythemia (elevated red blood cell count). You and your doctor may order this test as part of a complete blood count (CBC) during a routine health exam or when your doctor suspects you have a condition such as anemia (low hematocrit) or polycythemia (high hematocrit) or at regular intervals to monitor a disorder that affects RBCs and to evaluate treatment effectiveness.