The capillary tubes that are used to draw blood for the meas

The capillary tubes that are used to draw blood for the measurement of hematocrit are treated with heparin. Why? _____ What component(s) of blood does each section of the hematocrit tube represent? Red _____ Buffy coat _____ Clear layer _____

Solution

C.Hematocrit:

1.The capillary buds that are used to draw blood for the measurement of hematocrit are treated with heparin because heparin is an anticoagulent that prevents blood clotting.Heparin inhibits the action of cofactors, namely thrombin and fibrin that participate in clotting of blood. By blocking these cofactors, formation of blood clot is prevented.

2.What component(s)of blood does each section of hematocrit tube represent.

When blood is centrifuged in a hematocrit, we can see different layers.The layers as as below:

Red :The red layer forms the the bottom layer of hematocrit. Itconsists mainly of red blood cells i.e RBCs.It consitutes 45% of total blood.

Buffy coat:The buffy coat forms middle layer of hematocrit.It consists of white blood cells and platelets.It consitutes <1% of total blood.

Clear layer:The clear layer forms the upper layer.It consists mainly of plasma.It constitutes 55% of total blood.