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Hematocrit Surveillance

Meaning

Hematocrit Surveillance is the clinical practice of routinely monitoring a patient’s hematocrit level, which is the percentage of red blood cells by volume in the blood, as a safety measure during specific therapeutic regimens. This consistent laboratory monitoring is crucial for patients receiving testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) due to the known risk of androgen-induced erythrocytosis, a potentially dangerous increase in red blood cell mass. The surveillance protocol dictates the frequency of blood tests and establishes clear clinical thresholds that, if exceeded, necessitate intervention, such as dose reduction or therapeutic phlebotomy.