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Glite Dictionary
🩸 Blood cell ratio 🧪 A measuring tool
hematocrit

hematocrit

1 9.5
A tool that measures how much of the blood is red blood cells
  • noun
  • /ˈhɛmətəˌkrɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hematocrito
  • A high hematocrit indicates a greater concentration of red blood cells in the bloodstream.

Examples

  • Hematocrit (Hct) was measured immediately following each blood draw using the microhematocrit method.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The doctor ordered a test to measure the hematocrit of the patient's blood sample.

  • Once IDA has been identified by clinical evidence and laboratory tests (e.g., hemoglobin, hematocrit, plasma iron, ferritin levels, and transferrin levels), identifying the etiology is necessary.

    Academic text (2003)

  • To assess dehydration, we will check the hematocrit levels in the lab.

Synonyms

hemacytometer
vshematocrit
  • Specialized
9.9

A special glass slide with a grid that you use under a microscope to count blood cells

measures red cell proportion in blood by spinning samples
hemocytometer
vshematocrit
  • Specialized
9.1

A glass device with a grid used under a microscope to count tiny cells in liquid

measures red cell ratio in blood using centrifugation rather than counting

Surface Forms

hematocrit singular
hematocrits plural

Morphology

hematocrit = hemato + crit

Formed from technical combining forms (hemato- + -crit) that are not productive or familiar to average learners, so the meaning cannot be reliably derived from the parts.

Etymology

Hematocrit was originally the name of a medical tool. It comes from the parts hemato- ('blood') and -crit ('judge' or 'separate') — think of critic as a 'judge' — and the hematocrit tool 'judges' blood by spinning it to separate red cells from plasma, so it measures blood cell levels.