Sign in →

Test Code HCT Hematocrit

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Whole blood

Preferred Specimen: lavender top

Other Acceptable specimens: not applicable 

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately.

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. Specimens must be received within 8 hours. If transport is delayed, refrigerate specimens prior to transport. 

Rejection Criteria

  • Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits. 
  • Frozen or heated specimens will be rejected
  • Clotted or quantity not sufficient specimens are not suitable for testing and will be rejected 

 

Reference Values

Analyte

Age

Sex

Reference Range

HCT

0 days

Male and female

42 – 60 %

HCT

1 day

Male and female

45 - 67 %

HCT

7 days

Male and female

42 – 66 %

HCT

14 days

Male and female

39 – 63 %

HCT

1 month

Male and female

31 – 55 %

HCT

2 months

Male and female

28 – 42 %

HCT

3 months

Male and female

29 – 41 %

HCT

6 months

Male and female

33 – 39 %

HCT

2 years

Male and female

34 – 40 %

HCT

6 years

Male and female

35 – 45 %

HCT

12 years and up

Male

41 – 53 %

HCT

12 years and up

Female

36 – 47 %

Critical Values

Analyte

Unit

Low

High

Age

HCT

%

20

60

All

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory. 

 

STAT Turnaround Time: 60 minutes

Routine Turnaround Time: 240 minutes

 

Testing Schedule: 24/7

CPT Codes

85014

LOINC Codes

HCT 4544-3

Volume

Preferred Volume: 4.0 mL

Minimum Volume: 1.0 mL

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

(20 - 25°C)

24 hours 

Refrigerated

(2 - 10°C)

24 hours 

Frozen

(-20°C)

not acceptable

Collection Instructions

Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures. 

Test Components

HCT

Clinical Indications

  • Screening test for various diseases
  • Useful in the diagnosis of disease states such as anemias, leukemias, allergic reactions, viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections. 

Methodology

Sysmex XN

Synonyms/Search Keywords

Not applicable

Additional Information

Not applicable

Last Reviewed Date

9/5/2024