i just had a blood test done and my Hematocrit was 47 and i live at 3000+ feet. i was just wondering how it compares?
Dan…
Blood test last fall after a 12 hour fast. Blood hematocrit was 50.8. I live in Chicago. Quest Diagnostics did the lab work. Needless to say, I question the accuracy of the results.
Chris
49 a couple of months ago.
-Robert
46.5 two weeks ago.
I donate blood regularly at my local red cross. They have to test hematocrit in order to ensure I have enough RBC in my blood to donate. I am wondering (from other who have been tested) is there a procedure that is followed by pros or whatever to ensure accurate results, such as a fast or certain glucose uptake, or is it just what it is? I would like to replicate the ‘pro’ requirements so I can compare my hematocrit, just for kicks.
Needless to say, I question the accuracy of the results
Why?
41.7 at my last blood test (early January).
You other guys are putting some huge HCT numbers up there. Do you have hypo-oxygen tents or live at altitude?
Hey Ben
the Pro’s get it all and any time! after a race, at home. you name it. thats cycling Pros. they get alot of out of comp tests.
Dan…
hematocrit is determined by taking a small sample of blood. You then centrifuge it. The ratio of the volume of RBC to the volume of the whole sample is defined as hematocrit.
Yes, more RBC increase your hematocrit, but so does dehydration. You don’t have to be dehydrated much to see a change in hematocrit.
Before questioning the accuracy of any result you should understand the procedure of the test and what the results mean.
After three weeks of Epogen treatment, by cat Oscar is now at 41 (up from 17). Just tested last night. We live at sea level. These kind of improvements for only $600, I can see how easy it is for someone to rationalize. I’ve never seen that kind of improvement from a $900 disc! He’s also dropped from 18lbs to 14lbs so his power to weight ratio must be amazing. I think he might take a tour stage this year. Write a book. Sell wrist bands. And still insist he’s never taken any PEDs.
42 (fasting). Live near Chicago.
49.7 Hct
16.9 Hemoglobin
Very happy about this since I was anemic 3 years ago due to undiagnosed Celiac Dz. Avoiding Gluten sucks but it’s kind of worth it to see these numbers.
I live at 5300 ft though so I’d expect a little increase.
Lehmkuhler