What condition is indicated by a false increase in hematocrit?

A false increase in hematocrit typically occurs due to insufficient centrifugation during the blood sample processing. When blood is centrifuged, the heavier components, primarily the red blood cells, settle at the bottom, while the plasma remains at the top. If the centrifugation is not performed adequately—either due to inadequate speed or time—some red blood cells may not settle properly, leading to an inaccurately high measurement of hematocrit.

This phenomenon can be particularly misleading because hematocrit reflects the proportion of red blood cells in the total blood volume, and any issue during the centrifugation can distort this balance. As a result, the hematocrit value may suggest a higher red blood cell mass than is truly present, leading to potentially incorrect clinical interpretations and decisions.

On the other hand, excessive anticoagulant would typically lead to dilution of the blood sample, potentially resulting in a lower rather than higher hematocrit. A high red blood cell count would naturally yield a high hematocrit but doesn’t imply a falsified increase. Lastly, low fluid intake could lead to hemoconcentration, which might actually increase hematocrit levels, but this increase would not be considered a false reading since it reflects a true physiological state.