Download MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) Practicals Latest Physiology PCV Estimation
Determination Of Packed Cell
Volume by Macro Method
Clinical Importance of PVC
Aim of Presentation
To Know
? What is Packed Cell Volume (PCV)
? Methods for Determination of PCV (Hematocrit)
? Clinical Importance of PCV (Hematocrit)
PCV
? PCV also known as Hematocrit is the volume
occupied by Erythrocytes in the given volume
of
blood
and
is
usually
expressed
as
percentage of the volume of the whole blood
sample.
Hematocrit (PCV)
? Hematocrit is derived from Greek words `Haima'
meaning blood `krites' meaning to Separate. Together
Hematocrit means `to separate blood'
PRINCIPLE
? Anticoagulant mixed blood is filled in a tube and
centrifuged.Cells settle down towards the bottom
because of their greater density leaving the clear
plasma on upper side
PROCEDURE
? Under aseptic condition get a venous blood sample.
? Carefully mix the blood with anticoagulant (Ammonium oxalate 3mg
and Potassium Oxalate 2mg) in a tube by repeated inversions.
? Fill the Wintrobe tube with the help of Pasteur pipette to the 10cm
mark. Which represents 100%.
? Place the Wintrobe tube in the centrifuge machine and other Wintrobe
tube filled with water on the opposite side so as to balance it.
Precautions
? There should be no air bubble or froth of blood in the tube.
? Always use double oxalate as anticoagulant.
? Wintrobe tube should be clean and dry.
True hematocrit
? After centrifugation small amount of plasma is still entrapped between
RBCs.So the true Hematocrit is calculated as:
? Hematocrit
96
True Hematocrit
100
Buffy Layer
? The buffy layer consists of packed platelets and leukocytes
? Thickness 1mm
? The thickness of buffy layer increases in leucocytosis ,leukaemia and
thrombocytosis
Clinical Importance
Physiologic (Normal) increase in PCV
? New born and Infants
? High altitude
? Higher in man as compared to female
Physiologic (Normal) decrease in PCV
? Less in women as compared to man
? Pregnancy ( hemodilution)
This post was last modified on 30 November 2021