The hematocrit (Ht or HCT, British English spelling haematocrit), also known as packed cell volume (PCV) orerythrocyte volume fraction (EVF), is the volume percentage (%) of red blood cells in blood. It is normally 45% for men and 40% for women. It is considered an integral part of a person’s complete blood count results, along with hemoglobinconcentration, white blood cell count, and platelet count. Because the purpose of red blood cells is to transfer oxygen from the lungs to body tissues, a blood sample’s hematocrit—the red blood cell volume percentage—can become a point of reference of its capability of delivering oxygen. Additionally, the measure of a subject’s blood sample’s hematocrit levels may expose possible diseases in the subject. Anemia refers to an abnormally low hematocrit, as opposed topolycythemia, which refers to an abnormally high hematocrit. For a condition such as anemia that goes unnoticed, one way it can be diagnosed is by measuring the hematocrit levels in the blood. Both are potentially life-threatening disorders.