The packed cell volume (PCV) is a measurement of the proportion of blood that is made up of cells. The value is expressed as a percentage or fraction of cells in blood. For example, a PCV of 40% means that there are 40 millilitres of cells in 100 millilitres of blood.

1. Packed cell volume Estimation
Dr. Bimochan Poudel
B.V.Sc and A.H , AFU
Dr.Bimochan Poudel

2. PACKED CELL VOLUME (HEMATOCRIT)
• Hematocrit literally means “blood separation”
• Packed cell volume is the percentage of volume
of blood occupied by the red cells
• Methods used for determination of PCV
1. Macrohematocrit method (Wintrobes method)
2. Microhematocrit method
3. Electrical method
4. Indirect method
Dr.Bimochan Poudel

3. Wintrobes method for estimation of
PCV
• Apparatus required
– Wintrobes tube –
• It is 110mm long, narrow, thick walled tube with 3mm
internal bore
• Graduated from 0 to 10 cm with graduation on both sides
in ascending and descending order on 2 sides of tube
• Scale with the markings from 0 to 10 from above
downwards is used in ESR determination and from below
upwards is used for PCV determination
– Pasteur pipette
– Centrifuge
Dr.Bimochan Poudel

4. Wintrobes Tube
Dr.Bimochan Poudel

5. Dr.Bimochan Poudel

6. Dr.Bimochan Poudel

7. Dr.Bimochan Poudel

8. Dr.Bimochan Poudel

9. Procedure –
– 2ml of venous blood is collected and mixed with double
oxalate (ammonium oxalate and potassium oxalate) or EDTA
powder in the proportion of 1.5mg/ml
– Blood is drawn into Pasteur pipette and introduced in the
Wintrobes tube from the bottom to 0 or 10 mark above
– Place the Wintrobes tube in the centrifuge machine and other
Wintrobes tube filled with water on the opposite side so as to
balance it.
– Centrifuge the tube at the speed of 3000rpm for 30 minutes
– After 30 minutes stop the centrifuge, take out the tube and
note the readings
– Calculation –
• Hematocrit = [ Height of RBC’s in mm/Height of RBC and plasma] X
100
Dr.Bimochan Poudel

10. Zones separated after centrifugation
• Top layer – Plasma (48 – 52%)
– Normally amber or pale yellow colour
– yellow – jaundice
– Pink or red colour indicates – hemolysis
– creamy white – hyperlipidemia
– Brown coloured – meth hemoglobinemia
– Cloudy (increased viscosity) – Multiple myeloma
• Intermediate zone – Buffy coat – Zone of platelets and leukocytes (2% –
3% or 1mm thick)
– Greyish – white tan layer
– Smears prepared from buffy coat can be used to diagnose
• Sub leukemic leukemia
• LE cells
• Detection of plasma cells
• Hemoparasites
• Lower most zone or bottom layer – Zone of packed RBC’s (45% – 50%)
Dr.Bimochan Poudel

11. Dr.Bimochan Poudel

12. Clinical implications of PCV
• PCV is affected by the number of RBC’s, their size and plasma volume
• High PCV –
– increased number of RBC’s
– Increase in size of RBC
– Decrease in plasma volume
• Low PCV
– Decrease in number of RBC’s
– Decrease in size of RBC
– Increase in plasma volume
• Causes of increased PCV
– Polycythemia vera
– High altitudes
– Hypoxia conditions
– Lung and heart diseases
– Dehydration
– Burns (due to loss of plasma)
• Causes of decreased PCV
– Anemia
– Conditions with increased WBC’s
– long term illness,
– infection
– leukemia
– Lymphoma
– Hemodilution or overhydration
– Acute kidney disease – lower erythropoietin production leads to less RBC’s production by bone marrow
– Pregnancy
Dr.Bimochan Poudel