Question

While Mr. Chakrabarti's hematocrit sample is spinning in the centrifuge, you perform an automated hemoglobin test on a sample of his blood and record the value as 15 g/dL. You do a quick mental calculation and expect that the hematocrit value will be approximately

A. 5%
B.45 g/dL
C.5 g/dL
D.45%

Answer 1

Based on a hemoglobin value of 15 g/dL, the expected hematocrit value is approximately 45 percent, reflecting the common ratio where hematocrit is about three times the hemoglobin level.

Step-by-step explanation:

When estimating the expected hematocrit value from a recorded hemoglobin value of 15 g/dL, it is important to understand the typical hematocrit ranges and the relationship between hemoglobin and hematocrit. The value of hemoglobin in the blood is a calculation that can aid in predicting the hematocrit (packed cell volume or PCV), which is the volume percentage of erythrocytes in a centrifuged blood sample.

Normally, the hematocrit is about three times the value of the hemoglobin. Thus, with a hemoglobin value of 15 g/dL, one might predict the hematocrit to be approximately 45 percent (since 15 times 3 equals 45). This reflects a healthy average for males and is at the higher range for females. Hematocrit levels vary within a range—typically, 36-50 percent for adults, depending on gender and other factors with males generally having a higher value than females.

In conclusion, with the given hemoglobin value of 15 g/dL, the expected hematocrit value would be closest to option D. 45%.