Medical news; information about diseases, disorders, and syndromes; information about laboratory tests. Updated weekly. …………………………………………………………………………………………… Hematocrit: The hematocrit is a hematology test performed on a patient’s blood which indicates the percentage of the blood which is cellular. The blood, as a tissue, is composed of a liquid portion, the plasma, which carries dissolved substances, and the cellular components, a lineup of different types of cells which vary in their percentages based on the state of the patient’s health. A decreased hematocrit percentage is one, but not the only, indicator of anemia. An increased hemtocrit percentage can occur in conditions such as dehydration and polycythemia vera. A normal hematocrit for an adult male is 40-61%; for an adult female, the normal percentage is 34-46. The values vary only slightly worldwide except for individuals who live at very high altitudes.