Fish And Wildlife Service Statistical Digest

Abstract: The micro method of hematocrit is rapidly replacing red cell counts in clinical hematology. Observations were made on the value of this method in routine hematological examination of trouts. Under the conditions of data collection, the normal hematocrit values for brook trout were 45 to 50, for brown trout 39 to 44, and for rainbow trout 45 to 53. There was a close correlation between the hematocrits, red cell counts and hemoglobin. The commercial heparinized capillaries, while excellent for human blood, tend to give somewhat higher readings (7 to 18 percent) with trout, due to incomplete prevention of blood coagulation. The procedure as applied to trout is described in detail.