Hemoglobin, hematocrit and red blood cell count are part of a complete blood count. The three results are related as there are different ways of measuring the levels of your red blood cells.
Hemoglobin (Hb) is a component of your red blood cells that supplies oxygen to the cells of your body. Hemoglobin levels in the blood are measured in grams per deciliter (g/dl) and the normal levels for an adult male range from 13.5 to 17.5 g/dl while for an adult female they range from 12 to 15.5 g/dl.
Hematocrit (Hct) levels measure the percentage of red blood cells, by volume, in whole blood. For example, a hematocrit of 30% means that 100 milliliters of blood contain 30 milliliters of red blood cells. For an adult male, the normal level of hematocrit ranges from 38.8 to 50 percent and for an adult female it ranges from 34.9 to 44.5 percent.
Red blood cell count is a measure of the amount of red blood cells contained in a unit volume of blood. It is usually measured in million cells / mcL (micro liter). The normal levels for an adult male would range from 4.32 to 5.72 million cells/mcL and the normal levels for adult female ranges from 3.9 to 5.03 million cells/mcL.
Hematocrit and other levels are measured in automated machines that make several measurements simultaneously. The levels are measured indirectly by measuring the amount of hemoglobin and average volume of red blood cells. Another way of measuring hematocrit is to use a centrifuge. Red blood cells will settle at the bottom of the tube after being centrifuged and the percentage volume can be measured visually.
Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels depend on the volume of blood and the readings can get skewed if the patient is severely dehydrated or is overloaded with fluids.
While a complete blood count and the individual readings contained in it are not a definitive test, they do indicate the presence of a problem. Based on these results, your doctor may require you to undergo further tests that will help him or her to make a diagnosis.
It is important to bear in mind that readings for hematocrit, hemoglobin and red blood cell count, if marginally out of normal range, may not be significant especially if you are healthy and have no signs of any illness.
However, if your readings are significantly outside of normal range, then they may signify a problem and your doctor may recommend that you consult a hematologist who specializes in disorders of the blood.
A low hematocrit, hemoglobin and red blood cell count indicates that you are anemic. Anemia is a condition wherein the main symptoms are weakness and fatigue. It can be caused by a number of factors including iron and vitamin deficiency, hemorrhaging or underlying conditions. Some of the causes of anemia include:
Your diet can play a big role in the treatment of both low and high hematocrit levels.
If your anemia is caused by nutritional deficiencies, then you need to increase your intake of foods that are rich in iron. These include red meats, organ meats, eggs, spinach, brewer’s yeast and dark green, leafy vegetables. You can also check the labels of cereal boxes and chose one that has been fortified with iron. Along with this you should eat foods that are rich in vitamin C as this helps the body to absorb iron.
If your anemia is caused by either vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency, then you can correct this by taking supplements or injections or food that is rich in these two vitamins.
If you suffer from any condition where your hematocrit levels are high then you should minimize if not exclude iron rich foods from your diet.
Consult your doctor about any dietary changes you may require before making any such changes.
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