Reference ranges
| Adult men | 40 – 54% |
| Adult women | 36 – 48% |
| Pregnancy | 33 – 44% (lower is expected) |
| Children | 33 – 44% |
Reference ranges vary between laboratories and methods. Always read your result against the range printed on your own report.
Seek care urgently if
- PCV below 20% — this needs same-day medical attention
- Breathlessness at rest with a low PCV
- Chest pain or palpitations
- Fainting or near-fainting
- Low PCV in pregnancy
- Visible bleeding alongside a low result
What a high result can mean
Dehydration
The commonest reason. Less fluid makes the red cell proportion look higher than it is.
Living at altitude or smoking
Both increase red cell production over time.
Lung disease
Chronic low oxygen drives the body to make more red cells.
Polycythaemia
A less common condition where the marrow overproduces red cells.
What a low result can mean
Iron deficiency
By far the most common cause in Nigeria, especially in women with heavy periods.
Malaria
Destroys red cells and commonly lowers PCV.
Sickle cell disease
A chronically low PCV is expected.
Chronic blood loss
From ulcers, piles or heavy periods — often slow enough to go unnoticed.
Chronic disease or kidney problems
Reduce red cell production.
Have your result in front of you?
Send us the value and we will tell you whether it needs an appointment or not. No account, no form.
Ask about my PCV resultNothing is stored on this website.
What happens next
A low PCV tells you anaemia is present but not why. The next step is usually a full blood count with iron studies to establish the cause, because treating the wrong cause wastes months.
Full Blood Count PCV Test Malaria & Typhoid TestOther results people look up
This page explains what a result can mean in general terms. It is not a diagnosis and cannot account for your history, medication or examination. All visits to Mascot Healthcare are by appointment — Mon–Sat, 9AM–5PM, 52 Sholanke Street, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos.