Blood WorkHematocrit (HCT) is the share of your blood made up of red blood cells. It's part of a complete blood count (CBC); typical ranges are about 38% to 50% for men and 35% to 45% for women. Low hematocrit usually means anemia; high hematocrit can come from dehydration, smoking, sleep apnea, lung disease or testosterone therapy, and rarely a bone marrow condition.
What does hematocrit measure?
If you spun a tube of blood, the red cells would settle to the bottom. Hematocrit is the percentage of the tube they fill. It rises and falls with your red blood cell count and hemoglobin, and with how much fluid is in your blood.
What is a normal hematocrit?
| Group | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Men | About 38% to 50% |
| Women | About 35% to 45% |
Your lab's printed range applies. Pregnancy lowers hematocrit, and living at altitude raises it.
What does low hematocrit mean?
Low hematocrit usually means anemia. Common causes are low iron, B12 or folate, blood loss (heavy periods or the gut), kidney disease, long-term inflammation and pregnancy. See the anemia and iron guide.
Call 911 or go to the ER if a low result comes with chest pain, fainting or severe shortness of breath. Get care the same day for black or bloody stools.
What does high hematocrit mean?
- Dehydration, the most common cause of a one-off high result.
- Smoking, sleep apnea (see sleep apnea care), lung disease or living at altitude.
- Testosterone therapy, which commonly raises hematocrit.
- Rarely, polycythemia vera, a bone marrow condition.
On testosterone? Guidelines advise checking hematocrit before starting and during treatment, and lowering the dose or pausing it if hematocrit rises above 54% (see the low testosterone guide).
If your hematocrit is off at Passion Health
A Texas-licensed clinician reviews every result and calls you the same day about anything critical. One result outside the range is common and often harmless; we read it with the rest of your panel, your history and your medicines, and recheck when that's the sensible next step.
For low hematocrit we look for the cause of anemia. For high hematocrit we repeat it well hydrated, review smoking, sleep and medicines, and adjust testosterone treatment if needed; a persistently high result with no clear cause goes to a hematologist. The Men's Health Panel ($139) includes hematocrit with testosterone.
Hematocrit test cost in Texas
Self-pay. Hematocrit comes with every complete blood count. In Essential Blood Work ($59) it's part of 33 results with the draw and a clinician's review included; on its own, the complete blood count is $20 plus the $29 draw and review fee ($49).
With insurance. If we're in network with your plan, we bill it when the test is covered. You pay cash for a test only after we tell you the price in writing, and Medicare patients sign an Advance Beneficiary Notice first.
Hematocrit test questions
What is hematocrit in a blood test?
Hematocrit (HCT) is the percentage of your blood made up of red blood cells. Typical ranges are about 38% to 50% for men and 35% to 45% for women.
What does a high hematocrit mean?
Most often dehydration, smoking, sleep apnea, lung disease or testosterone therapy. Rarely it's polycythemia vera, a bone marrow condition, which is why a persistently high result is looked into.
What does a low hematocrit mean?
Usually anemia, from low iron, B12 or folate, blood loss, kidney disease or long-term inflammation. Your clinician looks at MCV and iron tests to find the cause.
What hematocrit is too high on testosterone?
Guidelines advise lowering the dose or pausing testosterone if hematocrit rises above 54%, and not starting it until a hematocrit above 50% has been looked into. Don't change your dose on your own.
Can drinking water lower my hematocrit?
If a high result came from dehydration, yes: a repeat test when you're well hydrated is often normal. Water doesn't lower a hematocrit that's high for other reasons.