A hematocrit centrifuge is a laboratory instrument used to separate whole blood into its individual components, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and plasma. The procedure for using a hematocrit centrifuge involves several steps, which are outlined below.
Preparation: The first step in the hematocrit centrifuge procedure is to prepare the necessary equipment and materials. This includes gathering a hematocrit centrifuge, hematocrit tubes, a blood sample, and any additional supplies such as gloves or protective eyewear.
Collection of blood sample: The next step is to collect a blood sample from the patient. This can be done through a variety of methods, such as a venipuncture or a fingerstick. Once the blood has been collected, it should be transferred to a hematocrit tube.
Filling the hematocrit tube: The hematocrit tube should be filled with blood to a specific mark on the tube, which is usually about three-quarters full. This ensures that there is enough blood in the tube to accurately measure the hematocrit value.
Sealing the hematocrit tube: After the hematocrit tube has been filled with blood, it should be sealed with a rubber stopper or cap. This prevents the blood from spilling out of the tube during the centrifugation process.
Running the hematocrit centrifuge: The sealed hematocrit tube should then be placed in the hematocrit centrifuge and the machine should be started. The centrifuge will spin at a high speed, causing the blood to separate into its different components. The red blood cells will settle at the bottom of the tube, the white blood cells and platelets will form a layer in the middle, and the plasma will be at the top.
Reading the hematocrit value: Once the centrifugation process is complete, the hematocrit value can be read by looking at the scale on the side of the hematocrit tube. This value is expressed as a percentage and represents the proportion of red blood cells in the blood sample.
Overall, the hematocrit centrifuge procedure is a simple and quick way to determine the hematocrit value, which is an important measure of the body's overall health and wellness. By understanding this value, healthcare professionals can diagnose and treat a variety of medical conditions and disorders related to the blood and circulatory system.
Hematocrit Centrifuge
In newborns and especially premature babies, high hematocrit values are common. It is used for the photometric determination of bilirubin content in neonate blood samples. A blood test can be slightly uncomfortable. . See more Shop Now. This article describes and discusses some routine laboratory and point-of-care methods of measuring hematocrit. Am J Clin Nutr 1981; 34, 1: 61-64.
Your sample will be sent to a lab for analysis. An advantage with this method is that before performing PCV, test for erythrocyte sedimentation rate can be set up. Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in the total blood volume. Leukocytosis frequently occurs when systemic or local infections usually due to bacteria are present. First you will receive a blood test. Some hematocrit readers use a photometric method to measure the absorbance of light by the red blood cells, while others use a capacitance method to measure the electrical conductivity of the sample. They differ in volume and diameter.
In addition, the specific clinical and analytical needs for any patient population must be determined. Simultaneous measurements of blood pH, pCO 2, pO 2and concentrations of hemoglobin and its derivatives — a multicenter study. WBC count: manipulate the x and y axis feed knobs to move to next counting squares b. Leave a small amount of air at the top of each tube to prevent the formation of a vacuum. Imagine them as the subway system of your blood. Evaluation of the capillary microhematocrit as a screening test for anemia in pediatric office practice. The red cells will slide if the tubes are left in a horizontal position and the hematocrit will be falsely increased.
It is usually made of metal or plastic and is sealed to create a vacuum inside. Some blood gas analyzers determine hematocrit by a conductivity measurement which is corrected for the concentrations of conducting ions in the sample. The centrifuge head contains the cups or shields that cover the rotor and turns on a spindle. A hematocrit test is not associated with any major side effects or risks. Discussion When hematocrit is used to assess anemia and the oxygen-carrying capacity, the advantages and disadvantages of each method must be carefully considered.
Perform regular maintenance, such as checking the rotor and the motor, to ensure that the centrifuge is in good working order. Radiometer publication Bulletin No. The layer between the RBCs and plasma, the buffy coat layer, constitutes approx. When a sample of blood is placed into a tube and spun in the centrifuge, the red blood cells, which are denser than the plasma, will sediment to the bottom of the tube, while the plasma will remain at the top. Your doctor may order a hematocrit, or Hct, test if they think you have too few or too many red blood cells.
A lab specialist will add a special anticoagulant to keep your blood from clotting. Tilt it slightly and pull the capillary out of the putty. Hettich products are designed to help you achieve optimal results for your application and are built to perform to the specifications outlined in the operators manual. Some methods are not suitable in certain applications due to e. Both methods call for the blood to be centrifuged, and the percentage of packed red cells is found by calculation. The hematocrit test is a type of blood test.
Methods suitable for an adult environment may not be suitable for a neonatal environment due to sample volume limitations. Plasma mainly consists of water approx. It is used to separate the cellular components of the blood from the fluid ones and to package them tightly together. The following table provides an easy overview of the described methods. White blood cell counts are performed either manually or with automated hematology analyzers. The microhematocrit method is the most accurate manual method of determining blood volume and should be used whenever feasible. The buffy coat, which is comprised of white cells and platelets, is not included.
The whole-blood sampling handbook. They are made of glass or plastic and are placed inside the rotor. Before starting to work, in addition to loading the centrifuge and closing it, it is necessary to make sure that it is properly closed and later regulate the ignition speed, as well as the time in which it is going to work. Conductivity on blood gas analyzers 4. Complete blood cell count 3.
The whole-blood sampling handbook. Fill about 3-quarters of the tube. In normal blood 1. To calculate the hematocrit value after centrifuging blood samples, you will need to measure the volume of packed red blood cells and the volume of plasma in each sample tube. When hematocrit determinations are below normal, medical conditions such as anemia and leukemia may be present. Abnormal White Cell Counts When white cell counts rise above normal values, the condition is referred to as leukocytosis. In less than seven minutes, this machine allows the erythrocytes to reach their maximum compaction density, thus knowing their hematocrit level and also having cell-free plasma used later in other analyzes.
