Hemoglobin and Hematocrit

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StrlSlvr - 18 Oct 2005 19:41 GMT

Two questions:

Hemoglobin and hematocrit values are generally lower for females than for
males? Why?

And -

If the hemoglobin content of blood is below normal, will the hematocrit
ration always be below normal in the same individual? Why or why not?

Thanks to anyone answering!

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JEDilworth - 19 Oct 2005 04:14 GMT

http://web2.airmail.net/uthman/blood_cells.html

This doesn't answer why the values are lower in females, but answers a
lot of questions about CBC's.

Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology

> Two questions:

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Robert - 19 Oct 2005 07:53 GMT

> Two questions:
>
> Hemoglobin and hematocrit values are generally lower for females than for
> males? Why?

Just a guess here but muscle mass ratios and hormonal differences. Keep in
mind that estrogens fluctuations can cause water retention and with
pregnancy you see the red cell plasma volumne decrease dilutionally
substantially. These are fictitious anemias as the total red cell mass is
normal but placed in an expanded plasma volumne.

> And -
>
> If the hemoglobin content of blood is below normal, will the hematocrit
> ration always be below normal in the same individual? Why or why not?

The definition of anemia is either a low hemoglobin or a low hematocrit. The
important thing is the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. You can get
artifactual variance as well as biological variance of both so that is why
you see that definition of either or.
Otherwise the definition of anemia would simply be a low hematocrit. The
lower the MCHC the lower the hemoglobin to hematocrit ratio.

> Thanks to anyone answering!

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