Packed Cell Volume Test in Beams Hospital, Hyderabad

The Packed Cell Volume test is also called the haematocrit test. It is used to diagnose anaemia, polycythaemia or dehydration in patients. Generally, the test is a part of a full blood count and is commonly carried out to monitor response to treatment, estimate need for blood transfusions, etc. Blood is a mixture of plasma and cells. The packed cell volume (PCV) test measures how much of the blood consists of cells. A PCV of 50% means 50 ml of cells are present in 100 ml of blood. If the number of red blood cells increases, the PCV also rises. It also increases as a result of dehydration.