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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Hematocrit (HCT) and hemoglobin (Hb) are two blood tests used to detect abnormalities in your red blood cells (RBCs). Hematocrit is the percentage of RBCs in your blood, while hemoglobin is a protein in RBCs that carries oxygen to cells. The HCT and Hb values are reported as part of a complete blood count (CBC). If hematocrit and hemoglobin levels are below the normal range, a person is said to have anemia. Causes for low hematocrit and hemoglobin include malnutrition, bleeding, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, bone marrow disorders, and blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma. Learn more about hematocrit and hemoglobin and what high or low values say about your health. Oliver Cleve / Getty Images What Is Hemoglobin? Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein in RBCs that carries oxygen and carbon dioxide. It also gives blood its red color. Hemoglobin is essential for transporting oxygen from your lungs to your tissues and cells. As oxygen reacts with glucose (blood sugar) inside of cells, it produces carbon dioxide as a waste product that hemoglobin carries back to the lungs to be expelled. Without hemoglobin to enable cellular respiration, tissues and cells of the body could not survive. Hemoglobin is formed in the bone marrow as red blood cells are produced. Iron is needed to create hemoglobin, so low iron levels in the body can lead to low Hb counts. What Is Hematocrit? Hematocrit is the proportion of blood composed of RBCs, reported as a percentage (%). In addition to RBCs, blood is comprised of plasma (the liquid part), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. While plasma accounts for around 55% of the total volume of blood, RBCs account for the largest share of blood cells. Because the purpose of RBCs is to transfer oxygen from the lungs to tissues, the hematocrit level is essential for determining whether there are enough RBCs to meet the body's demand for oxygen. Verywell / Michela Buttignol How Hemoglobin and Hematocrit Are Measured Hemoglobin and hematocrit are among of battery of tests included in a complete blood count (CBC). Your healthcare provider might order a
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