MCH is a short for Mean corpuscular hemoglobin

is a valuable part of a complete blood count

It’s a value representing the average amount of hemoglobin within a single red blood cell.


The MCH test is one of the RBC indices, others have been detailed in separate videos

Purpose of the test

The purpose of MCH test is to calculate the amount of hemoglobin in an individual red blood cell.

Its used to diagnose and classify different types of anemia.

So, MCH is a measurement for understanding how effectively oxygen is being distributed throughout the body.


Results

The results of the RBC indices are compared with each other and other blood tests in order to diagnose the cause of anemia

The normal range of MCH values are between 27 and 31 pg per cell.

MCH in people with anemia may be reported as:

Lower than MCH reference range:

Low MCH is called hypochromic anemia.

This type of anemia can be caused by iron deficiency or thalassemia

Within MCH reference range:

Its called Normochromic anemia

It may be caused by sudden blood loss, chronic disease, or kidney failure.

Higher than MCH reference range:

Its caled hyperchromic anemia, a condition that can be caused by low folate or vitamin B12 levels or chemotherapy

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