1. The percentage by volume of packed red blood cells in a given sample of blood after centrifugation.
2. A centrifuge used to determine the volume of blood cells and plasma in a given sample of blood.

[HEMATO- + Greek kritēs, judge (from krīnein, to judge).]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.