LAB POCKET GUIDE📒
Sometimes it happens that we have to measure the hematocrit (HCT) or packed cell volume (PCV) manually.💉
this can happen when:
- we don’t have PCV igroscopic tubes,
- we don’t have the reader (hawksley micro-haematocrit reader)
- the sample is not suitable for the measurement
What will you need? 💪
- 🧪whole blood sample (which can be either a hygroscopic tube or a normal one) CENTRIFUGATED,
- 📏ruler
- 🧮calcolator,
What to do then?
How to measure haematocrit manually
steps:
- measure total mm of plasma or serum
- measure mm of the red cell,
- therefor: mm(millimeters) red cells : mm total sample = x : 100
- calculate x = mm RED CELLS*100/ mm TOT
the result obtained is the calculated volume percentage of red blood cells (erythrocytes) in the blood = HEMATOCRIT.
HCT/PCV range:
dog = 37-55%
cat = 30-45%
The Lab Pocket Guide series collects everyday tips and small guides for veterinary technicians on laboratory, laboratory analysis, parasitology,