How do you read a microhematocrit tube?

Answer 1

Microhematocrit tubes are read according to PCV (Packed Cell Volume).

After centrifuging the tube, you will need a PCV card reader to determine the amount of packed red blood cells within the sample of blood. The PCV is determined by aligning the top of the clay plug (just as it reaches the layer of red blood cells) on the zero line and then gently "rolling" the tube up the chart until the intersecting middle line is aligned where the packed red cells and Buffy coat meet. Read across the chart and you should have a percentage of red blood cells to record as a PCV.