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The Packed Cell Volume (PCV) test — also known as Haematocrit (HCT) — measures the percentage of blood volume that is occupied...
Also known as: PCV Test · Haematocrit Test · HCT Test · Packed Cell Volume Blood Test · Crit Test
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*Inclusive of home collection charges
The Packed Cell Volume (PCV) test — also known as Haematocrit (HCT) — measures the percentage of blood volume that is occupied by red blood cells. It is one of the simplest, fastest, and most informative haematological measurements, directly reflecting the concentration of red blood cells in blood. PCV is a key parameter in diagnosing anaemia (low PCV) and polycythaemia (high PCV), and in assessing dehydration — where fluid loss concentrates red blood cells and raises PCV artificially. No fasting required.
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What Does the Packed Cell Volume (PCV / Haematocrit) Test Measure?
| Level / Result | Possible Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Normal PCV (Males 41–53%, Females 36–46%) | Normal red cell mass — no anaemia or polycythaemia |
| PCV 30–36% (Mild anaemia — females) | Mild anaemia — investigate cause (iron deficiency, B12, chronic disease) |
| PCV 21–30% (Moderate anaemia) | Moderate anaemia — symptoms likely; cause must be identified and treated |
| PCV < 21% (Severe anaemia) | Severe anaemia — risk of cardiopulmonary decompensation; transfusion may be required |
| PCV > 54% (Males) or > 47% (Females) — Polycythaemia | Elevated red cell mass — primary (polycythaemia vera) or secondary (COPD, altitude, dehydration, EPO excess) |
| PCV elevated with low haemoglobin (discrepancy) | Possible haemoglobin measurement artefact or haemoglobin variant — repeat and investigate |
Important Note: PCV closely tracks haemoglobin and provides equivalent information about red cell mass. The relationship is: Hb (g/dL) ≈ PCV (%) ÷ 3. Isolated PCV measurement without haemoglobin or red cell indices does not characterise the type of anaemia — full CBC with indices (MCV, MCH) is needed to identify the cause. All results should be reviewed by a physician.
PCV in Transfusion Medicine: The decision to transfuse is guided by both the PCV/Hb level and the patient's symptoms. A PCV of 30% (Hb ~10 g/dL) in a healthy young person with no symptoms may not require transfusion. The same PCV in an elderly patient with heart disease or active bleeding is a very different clinical situation. Modern transfusion medicine uses a 'restrictive' strategy — transfuse at PCV < 21% (Hb < 7 g/dL) in stable patients unless symptoms demand earlier intervention — as this approach reduces complications without compromising outcomes.
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