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Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH), Mean Cell Hemoglobin

January 28, 2023HematologyLab Tests

Table of Contents

  • Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin
      • Sample for Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin
      • Indication for Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin
      • Precaution for Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin
      • Definition of Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)
      • Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) Calculation
        • NORMAL
      • Interference for estimation of Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH):
      • Increased Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) is seen in the following:
      • Decreased Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) is seen in:
      • Questions and answers:

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin

Sample for Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin

  • This test is done on blood in EDTA (anticoagulant).

Indication for Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin

  1. It is done as part of blood indices.
  2. It is done to diagnose anemia. It has limited value in diagnosing anemia.

Precaution for Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin

  1. Keep in mind that the abnormal size of the RBC may affect the value.
  2. The presence of cold agglutinins gives a false raised value.
  3. Raised WBC count also affects the value.

Definition of Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)

  1. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) is obtained by dividing hemoglobin by RBC count.
  2. It represents the average amount of hemoglobin/RBCs.

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) Calculation

  1. This is the mean of the weight of average hemoglobin in one RBC.
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)

  1. MCH and MCHC values are used to determine the hemoglobin contents in the RBCs.
  2. MCH adds very little value to other blood indices.

NORMAL

Source 1

Age pg/cell
Fetal blood
18 to 20 weeks 43.14 ± 2.7
21 to 22 weeks 41.39 ± 3.32
23 to 25 weeks 40.48 ± 2.88
26 to 30 weeks 37.04 ± 3.67
Infants and Child
Cord blood 31 to 37
0.5 month 30 to 37
0ne month 29 to 36
2 month 27 to 34
4 month 25 to 32
6 month 24 to 30
9 month 25 to 30
12 month 24 to 30
1 to 2 year 22 to 30
3 to 5 year 25 to 31
6 to 8 year 25 to 31
9 to 11 year 26 to 32
Male  Female
12 to 14 year 26 to 32 26 to 32
15 to 17 year 27 to 32 26 to 34
18 to 44 year 27 to 37 27 to 34
45 to 64 year 27 to 35 27 to 34
65 to 74 year 27to 34 27 to 35


Source 2

  • Adult = 27 to 31 pg (picogram).
  • Newborn = 32 to 34 pg (picogram)

Another source

  • 26 to 34 pg

Interference for estimation of Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH):

  1. Lipemia.
  2. Cold agglutinins.
  3. Increased white blood cells (Leucocytosis = >50,000/cmm).
  4. In vivo hemolysis.
  5. In case of high concentration of heparin.
  6. Monoclonal proteins in the blood.

Increased Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) is seen in the following:

  1. Macrocytic anemia and in newborns.
  1. Infants and newborns.
Macrocytic RBCs and hypersegmented polys.

Macrocytic RBCs and hypersegmented polys.

Decreased Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) is seen in:

  1. Microcytic anemia.
  2. Hypochromic anemia.
Microcytic hypochromic RBC

Microcytic hypochromic RBC

Questions and answers:

Question 1: What is the value of MHC for the diagnosis of anemia?
Show answer
MHC has little value for the diagnosis of anemia.
Question 2: What is an effect of hemolysis on MCH?
Show answer
Hemolysis interferes with the estimation of MCH.

Possible References Used
Go Back to Hematology

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