II. Background

  1. Not as useful as other indices for Anemia Evaluation
  2. More useful indices
    1. Hemoglobin or Hematocrit
    2. Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
    3. Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)

III. Calculations

  1. Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)
    1. MCH = (10 x Hemoglobin) / (Red Blood Cell Count)
  2. Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)
    1. MCHC = (Hemoglobin x 100) / (Hematocrit)

IV. Interpretations

  1. Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)
    1. Normal: >30 pg/cell
    2. Abnormal: <30 pg/cell
      1. Suggests abnormal Hemoglobin synthesis
  2. Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)
    1. Normal: 28 - 33%
    2. Low (< 28%): Iron Deficiency Anemia
    3. High (> 33%): Spherocytosis or unstable Hemoglobin

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