What does a Hematocrit deferral mean for my health?
When hematocrit is below pre-set parameters, it is not necessarily an indication that there is something wrong. Hematocrit can be influenced by such things as diet and hydration as well as health issues. The hematocrit obtained during screening for blood donation is not meant to be diagnostic or predictive of any disease state. It is simply meant to reflect whether or not a person who is wishing to donate blood falls within the predetermined acceptable range.
