Hematocrit is typically measured using a centrifuge. A blood sample is placed in a capillary tube and centrifuged at high speeds, causing the blood components to separate based on density. The RBCs settle at the bottom, the buffy coat (comprising white blood cells and platelets) forms a thin middle layer, and the plasma remains at the top. The length of the RBC column is then measured and expressed as a percentage of the total length of the blood column.
