packed cell volume (PCV)
The portion of whole blood volume occupied
by erythrocytes (red blood cells). Packed
cell volume (PCV) has traditionally been determined by measuring the height
of the red cell volume in a micro-hematocrit capillary filled with whole
blood, after centrifugation (see diagram). PCV is a directly measured value,
whereas the hematocrit (Hct) is the corresponding
calculated value, calculated by multiplying a red blood cell count (RBC
count) with the mean erythrocyte volume (MCV). For most practical purposes
PCV and Hct are interchangeable (and are frequently used as such by many
authors), but typically PCV is slightly higher than the more accurate Hct
due to plasma trapping (between the packed cells in a centrifuged capillary).
Related category
• ANATOMY
AND PHYSIOLOGY
Source: Laboratory
for Applied Biotelemetry & Biotechnology, Dept of Marine Biology at Texas
A&M University Galveston
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