Hematocrit levels

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2006

H&H stands for hemoglobin & hematocrit. They measure the level of red blood cells in your blood.

A Hematocrit (HCT) of 18 is quite low. Some people with certain diseases run low normally. In absence of these (and usually even with them), an HCT less than 20-25 will merit the the patient getting a transfusion. The MD will also want to investigate why it is that low, if there are no know conditions that might cause the low level of RBCs (red blood cells)

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Mar 20, 2006

hematocrit - health and medical information produced by doctors ...

happynurse1 · Mar 20, 2006

no question is stupid!! to answer your question..H&H is a hemoglobin and hematocrit. hemoglobin is the am't of oxygen carrying protein within the red blood cells..hematocrit is the no. of red blood cells in the total blood volume. normal values will vary depending on the lab used but with hemoglobin..in men it is around 14 to 16 and women 12 to 15. with hemocrit..in men 42 to 50 and women 38 to 47. what was wrong with this patient? hope that helped!! and we need nurses!!! great choice of career!!

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2006

A hematocrit is the measure of the packed red blood cell volume in the blood. In the old days before instrumentation, the technologist would take a long, thin tube of glass and fill it with blood. It would then be sealed on one end with clay and spun in a special centrifuge. Then another device is used to measure the proportion of cells to plasma. The hematocrit is thus expressed as a percentage.

A normal hematocrit level is about 36-48% for women and 38-49% for men. These values vary slightly depending on the institution.

Newbie Nurse SMP · Mar 20, 2006

no question is stupid!! to answer your question..H&H is a hemoglobin and hematocrit. hemoglobin is the am't of oxygen carrying protein within the red blood cells..hematocrit is the no. of red blood cells in the total blood volume. normal values will vary depending on the lab used but with hemoglobin..in men it is around 14 to 16 and women 12 to 15. with hemocrit..in men 42 to 50 and women 38 to 47. what was wrong with this patient? hope that helped!! and we need nurses!!! great choice of career!!

Hi Happy Nurse,

Thank you for your response and for saying that my questions isn't stupid!

The Patient is my mother-in-law. She was brought to the ER on Friday night..Hemoglobin of 5, Hematocrit of 18! I know I had heard those terms in A&P 1, but i think with everything else going through my head I just needed some clarification.

She has a blood disorder. Don't really want to get into specifics right now.

Your explanation really helped me!!

Thank you!!!

**And thank you to all who replied! I love this web site, everyone is always so very helpful!**

:)

happynurse1 · Mar 20, 2006

i am a bone marrow transplant nurse..i can guess what the disorder is ... how is she doing..i hope ok!! if you need any help..please let me know!!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2006

This may be a dumb question, but I am going to ask it anyway. Please keep in mind that I am still only taking pre-reqs to get into the Nursing Program and that is why I do not know this...
When a nurse says that your Hematocrit in 18...what does that mean?
Also what does H&H mean when a nurse is giving a report over the phone?

There is no dumb question. We all learn when people ask questions and someone else surely has the same question. Kudos for being curious enough to ask and to want to learn.

[bANANA]Great site Karen as always![/bANANA]

I hope your MIL is o.k. That is an awfully low H&H.