Rodak's Hematology Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

Hematocrit represents the volume percentage of red blood cells (RBCs) in blood and is crucial for diagnosing various hematological conditions. In Beckman Coulter instruments, hematocrit is calculated using the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) along with the red blood cell count. MCV measures the average volume of individual red blood cells, making it a direct parameter essential for determining how much of the blood volume is occupied by these cells when multiplied by the appropriate red blood cell count.

The other parameters listed, such as RDW (Red Cell Distribution Width), hemoglobin, and MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration), while important in evaluating red blood cell characteristics and functions, do not contribute directly to the calculation of hematocrit in the context provided by the question. RDW assesses the variation in red cell size, hemoglobin measures the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood, and MCHC indicates the concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of packed red cells, none of which is directly used in the formula for calculating hematocrit.