Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsNormal MCH ResultsLow MCH ResultsHigh MCH ResultsInterpretation
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Normal MCH Results
Low MCH Results
High MCH Results
Interpretation
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) is a blood test used to measure the average amount of hemoglobin in your red blood cells.Hemoglobinis the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to tissues as blood circulates in the body.
The MCH test is included in a panel of tests called acomplete blood count (CBC)which not only looks atred blood cellsbut alsowhite blood cellsandplatelets.
By comparing MCH results with other tests in a CBC, your healthcare provider may be able to diagnose certain conditions or help narrow the causes.
Low MCH values may be a sign ofanemiaor an inherited blood disease calledthalassemia. High MCH values may indicate vitamin deficiency, alcohol abuse, an underactive thyroid, or other causes.
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Normal MCH Blood Test Results
An MCH test result is normal when it falls between designated high and low values, known as the reference range. Anything above or below the reference range is considered abnormal.
What Does Hemoglobin Do?Hemoglobin is a protein that transports the oxygen your organs and tissues need to function. It also picks up carbon dioxide so it can be removed from the body.When combined with oxygen, hemoglobin gives blood its red color.As such, if your MCH is low, your blood will be less red. If your MCH is high, your blood will be more red.
What Does Hemoglobin Do?
Hemoglobin is a protein that transports the oxygen your organs and tissues need to function. It also picks up carbon dioxide so it can be removed from the body.When combined with oxygen, hemoglobin gives blood its red color.As such, if your MCH is low, your blood will be less red. If your MCH is high, your blood will be more red.
Hemoglobin is a protein that transports the oxygen your organs and tissues need to function. It also picks up carbon dioxide so it can be removed from the body.
When combined with oxygen, hemoglobin gives blood its red color.As such, if your MCH is low, your blood will be less red. If your MCH is high, your blood will be more red.
What Low MCH Test Results Mean
In adults, an MCH level below 27 pg/cell is considered low.Anemiais the most common cause of this, defined as having too few red blood cells or too little hemoglobin
A low MCH may also be due to conditions that causehemolysis(the destruction of red blood cells). While hemolysis is a natural process used to replace old cells with new ones, it can cause anemia if an excessive amount is destroyed.
Possible causes of low MCH include:
Symptoms of Low MCH
People with low MCH levels tend to have overtsymptoms of anemia, including:
What High MCH Test Results Mean
An MCH level above 31 pg/cell is considered abnormally high. This means that there is morehemoglobinin red blood cells,
There are several common reasons for this:
Symptoms of High MCH
People with high MCH levels may experience many of the same symptoms of anemia as people with low MCH levels. But, in the presence of conditions like megaloblastic anemia andpolycythemia vera, they might also experience:
Interpreting MCH Blood Test Results
An MCH is commonly performed as part of a CBC. It may ordered for a routine check-up or if you have signs of anemia, whether macrocytic or microcytic.
On its own, an MCH cannot diagnose any medical condition. It may open the door to possibilities, but it is only when compared to other blood tests that it has any interpretative value. These include a subset of tests in the CBC called the red blood cell (RBC) indices.
Along with the MCH, tests in the RBC indices include:
High and low values of each of these tests correspond to different conditions, some of which overlap. By comparing these values, the lab and health provider can better narrow the possible causes. Other tests can then be ordered to confirm or rule out the suspicions.
For instance, a high MCH and high MCV are characteristic of macrocytosis and macrocytic anemia. On the other hand, a low MCH and low MCV may indicate iron-deficiency anemia, microcytosis, or thalassemia.
Summary
The MCH blood test is part of a complete blood count test. The MCH shows the average amount of hemoglobin in your red blood cells. In adults, an MCH of 27 to 31 pg/cell is considered normal.
Low MCH values may indicate microcytic anemia (including iron deficiency anemia) or conditions like liver disease, kidney disease, blood loss, or thalassemia. High MCH values may indicate macrocytic anemia as well as conditions like polycythemia vera or a deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Red blood cell (RBC) indices.American College of Clinical Pharmacy.Reference values for common laboratory tests.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Blood tests.Deloughery TG.Iron deficiency anemia.Med Clin North Am. 2017;101(2):319-332. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2016.09.004Michalak SS, Olewicz-Gawlik A, Rupa-Matysek J, Wolny-Rokicka E, Nowakowska E, Gil L.Autoimmune hemolytic anemia: Current knowledge and perspectives.Immun Ageing. 2020;17(1):38. doi:10.1186/s12979-020-00208-7National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Anemia of inflammation or chronic disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Thalassemia: complications and treatment.Balendran S, Forsyth C.Non-anaemic iron deficiency.Aust Prescr.2021;44(6):193-196. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2021.052National Organization of Rare Disorders.Anemia, megaloblastic.Medline Plus.Polycythemia vera.Akunov A, Sydykov A, Toktash T, Doolotova A, Sarybaev A.Hemoglobin changes after long-term intermittent work at high altitude.Front Physiol. 2018;9:1552. Published 2018 Nov 1. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.01552Doig K, Zhang B,A methodical approach to interpreting the red blood cell parameters of the complete blood count.Am Soc Clin Lab Sci.2017;30(3):173-185. doi:10.29074/ascls.30.3.173
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Red blood cell (RBC) indices.American College of Clinical Pharmacy.Reference values for common laboratory tests.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Blood tests.Deloughery TG.Iron deficiency anemia.Med Clin North Am. 2017;101(2):319-332. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2016.09.004Michalak SS, Olewicz-Gawlik A, Rupa-Matysek J, Wolny-Rokicka E, Nowakowska E, Gil L.Autoimmune hemolytic anemia: Current knowledge and perspectives.Immun Ageing. 2020;17(1):38. doi:10.1186/s12979-020-00208-7National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Anemia of inflammation or chronic disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Thalassemia: complications and treatment.Balendran S, Forsyth C.Non-anaemic iron deficiency.Aust Prescr.2021;44(6):193-196. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2021.052National Organization of Rare Disorders.Anemia, megaloblastic.Medline Plus.Polycythemia vera.Akunov A, Sydykov A, Toktash T, Doolotova A, Sarybaev A.Hemoglobin changes after long-term intermittent work at high altitude.Front Physiol. 2018;9:1552. Published 2018 Nov 1. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.01552Doig K, Zhang B,A methodical approach to interpreting the red blood cell parameters of the complete blood count.Am Soc Clin Lab Sci.2017;30(3):173-185. doi:10.29074/ascls.30.3.173
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Red blood cell (RBC) indices.American College of Clinical Pharmacy.Reference values for common laboratory tests.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Blood tests.Deloughery TG.Iron deficiency anemia.Med Clin North Am. 2017;101(2):319-332. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2016.09.004Michalak SS, Olewicz-Gawlik A, Rupa-Matysek J, Wolny-Rokicka E, Nowakowska E, Gil L.Autoimmune hemolytic anemia: Current knowledge and perspectives.Immun Ageing. 2020;17(1):38. doi:10.1186/s12979-020-00208-7National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Anemia of inflammation or chronic disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Thalassemia: complications and treatment.Balendran S, Forsyth C.Non-anaemic iron deficiency.Aust Prescr.2021;44(6):193-196. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2021.052National Organization of Rare Disorders.Anemia, megaloblastic.Medline Plus.Polycythemia vera.Akunov A, Sydykov A, Toktash T, Doolotova A, Sarybaev A.Hemoglobin changes after long-term intermittent work at high altitude.Front Physiol. 2018;9:1552. Published 2018 Nov 1. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.01552Doig K, Zhang B,A methodical approach to interpreting the red blood cell parameters of the complete blood count.Am Soc Clin Lab Sci.2017;30(3):173-185. doi:10.29074/ascls.30.3.173
MedlinePlus.Red blood cell (RBC) indices.
American College of Clinical Pharmacy.Reference values for common laboratory tests.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Blood tests.
Deloughery TG.Iron deficiency anemia.Med Clin North Am. 2017;101(2):319-332. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2016.09.004
Michalak SS, Olewicz-Gawlik A, Rupa-Matysek J, Wolny-Rokicka E, Nowakowska E, Gil L.Autoimmune hemolytic anemia: Current knowledge and perspectives.Immun Ageing. 2020;17(1):38. doi:10.1186/s12979-020-00208-7
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Anemia of inflammation or chronic disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Thalassemia: complications and treatment.
Balendran S, Forsyth C.Non-anaemic iron deficiency.Aust Prescr.2021;44(6):193-196. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2021.052
National Organization of Rare Disorders.Anemia, megaloblastic.
Medline Plus.Polycythemia vera.
Akunov A, Sydykov A, Toktash T, Doolotova A, Sarybaev A.Hemoglobin changes after long-term intermittent work at high altitude.Front Physiol. 2018;9:1552. Published 2018 Nov 1. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.01552
Doig K, Zhang B,A methodical approach to interpreting the red blood cell parameters of the complete blood count.Am Soc Clin Lab Sci.2017;30(3):173-185. doi:10.29074/ascls.30.3.173
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