Mean cell hemoglobin

Mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) is a calculation performed in blood tests to determine the average amount of hemoglobin present in each red blood cell. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.

Calculation

The MCH value is calculated by dividing the total mass of hemoglobin by the number of red blood cells in a volume of blood. It is expressed in picograms (pg) per cell. The formula for calculating MCH is:

MCH (pg) = (Hemoglobin (g/dL) / Red blood cell count (millions/μL)) x 10

Normal Range

The normal range for MCH is typically between 27 and 33 picograms per cell. However, these values can vary depending on the laboratory that analyzes the blood sample.

Clinical Significance

MCH is a part of a standard complete blood count (CBC) test. It is an important parameter in the diagnosis and classification of anemia. Anemias are classified as microcytic, normocytic, or macrocytic based on the MCH value.

• Microcytic anemia: This type of anemia is characterized by smaller than normal red blood cells, and it is typically associated with a low MCH value. It is often caused by iron deficiency or certain genetic conditions like thalassemia.
• Normocytic anemia: In this type of anemia, the red blood cells are of normal size, which typically corresponds to a normal MCH value. It can be caused by a variety of conditions, including kidney disease, cancer, or acute blood loss.
• Macrocytic anemia: This type of anemia is characterized by larger than normal red blood cells, and it is typically associated with a high MCH value. It can be caused by vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, among other conditions.

See Also

• Mean corpuscular volume
• Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
• Red blood cell distribution width