What does PCV stand for?

What does PCV stand for?

• A. Physical Exam
• B. Packed Cell Volume
• C. Per Os (by mouth)
• D. Pulmonary Thromboembolism

Answer: (B)

Packed Cell Volume is the percentage of red blood cells in whole blood. It’s measured by centrifuging a small capillary tube filled with blood and reading the ratio of the packed red cell column to the total blood column. This value helps identify anemia (low PCV), dehydration or polycythemia (high PCV), and overall red cell status. The other terms don’t fit because Physical Exam describes a clinical assessment, not a blood parameter; Per Os means by mouth; and Pulmonary thromboembolism is a vascular disease, not a hematology value.

Packed Cell Volume is the percentage of red blood cells in whole blood. It’s measured by centrifuging a small capillary tube filled with blood and reading the ratio of the packed red cell column to the total blood column. This value helps identify anemia (low PCV), dehydration or polycythemia (high PCV), and overall red cell status.

The other terms don’t fit because Physical Exam describes a clinical assessment, not a blood parameter; Per Os means by mouth; and Pulmonary thromboembolism is a vascular disease, not a hematology value.