What Does A Low Or High MCHC Mean In A Blood Test? - MedicineNet

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• Introduction
  • What is MCHC in blood tests?
• Causes
  • Causes of low or high MCHC values
• Symptoms
  • Signs and symptoms of high or low MCHC
• Diagnosis
  • Diagnosing high or low MCHC values
• Treatment
  • Treatments for High or Low MCHC Values
• FAQs
  • Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about MCHC blood test

What is MCHC in blood tests?

MCHC measures the amount of hemoglobin in your blood.

MCHC stands for mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and measures the amount of hemoglobin in your blood. You might have an MCHC test done as a part of a complete health check, or it can be used to help diagnose certain health problems. MCHC is one of the tests related to red blood cells (RBCs) called red blood cell indices. The red blood cell indices include MCHC, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and red cell distribution width (RDW) tests.

• MCV refers to the average size of RBCs
• RDW indicates the percentage of variation in RBC sizes
• MCH is the amount of hemoglobin in a red cell
• MCHC is the average percentage of hemoglobin concentration in a given volume of RBCs

Having particularly high or low levels of hemoglobin in your blood cells can be a sign of current or future health problems so an MCHC test can help you prevent or resolve several health complications.

Hemoglobin is a protein that helps carry oxygen from your lungs through the rest of your body. Low levels of hemoglobin can make your lungs and heart work harder to keep your body supplied with enough oxygen to function properly while high levels of hemoglobin can be a sign your body is compensating for lung and heart problems. Both high and low MCHC values are indications of different types of anemia.

While a high or low MCHC level isn't necessarily a problem on its own, it is often the result of other health problems. Understanding the signs and symptoms of high or low MCHC levels can help you get the treatment you need.

What is a normal MCHC range?

According to the reference range recommended by the American Board of Internal Medicine, normal MCHC in blood should be within a range of 33-36 g/dL. The normal range may vary slightly between labs, but it is usually between 32-36 g/dL.

Causes of low or high MCHC values

High and low MCHC values have different causes. Potential causes of high or low MCHC values include:

• Low iron intake
  • Getting enough iron in your diet is critical to avoid anemia. If you aren't getting enough iron, which is 8 mg for adult men and 18 mg for adult women, then you may experience iron-deficiency anemia and low MCHC levels.
• Vitamin deficiencies
  • Iron isn't the only important micronutrient for your blood. If you aren't getting enough vitamin B12 or folate, then you may experience vitamin deficiency anemia and low MCHC levels.
• Genetic causes
  • Some cases of low or high MCHC levels can be genetic. These include conditions like sickle cell anemia, in which your body produces curved red blood cells that don't live as long as healthy cells, or thalassemia which causes reduced production of hemoglobin. These blood disorders can lead to high or low MCHC levels.
• Chronic diseases
  • Longstanding illnesses like chronic kidney disease, cancers, bone marrow disorders, and autoimmune inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis can impact MCHC values and cause anemia.

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Signs and symptoms of high or low MCHC

Conditions that cause both high and low MCHC values often result in similar symptoms. Since both high and low MCHC levels are correlated to difficulty transporting oxygen through your body, both can lead to serious fatigue. Since your body isn't getting enough oxygen, your cells aren't getting the energy they need and you feel tired.

Other symptoms of high and low MCHC include:

Feeling cold

Since you're not getting as much oxygen in your body, your body loses some of its ability to regulate your temperature. For many people with anemia and low or high MCHC levels, this means they often feel cold even when others around them feel comfortable.

Fast heartbeat

If your MCHC values are low, then your heart will need to compensate to get more oxygen to the rest of your body. That can lead to a rapid heart rate even when you're resting. You can also have a rapid heart rate with certain conditions that lead to high MCHC levels.

Pale or yellow skin

Your blood is partly responsible for the color of your skin, especially among paler people. Some people with different forms of anemia or other hemoglobin complications will appear pale or yellow because there is less blood to color their skin.

Shortness of breath

When your body is struggling to get enough oxygen, you may experience shortness of breath. This is common in more severe cases of anemia.

Dizziness

When your brain doesn't get enough oxygen, you may feel dizzy or off-balance.

In severe cases, symptoms of anemia and high or low MCHC values can include:

• Fainting
• Headaches
• Difficulty focusing
• Chest pain

If you experience any of these symptoms, get medical help immediately.

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Diagnosing high or low MCHC values

To check your MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) levels, you will need a blood test performed. A medical professional will take a sample of blood and send it to a lab to be analyzed. They will calculate your MCHC and MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin) values by checking your RBC count, MCV (mean corpuscular volume), which refers to the size of your blood cells, and (RDW) red cell distribution width.

Both MCH and MCHC are calculated values based on RBC count, MCV, RDW, and the amount of hemoglobin in the RBCs. Labs use automated cell counters to count the blood cells in a sample. Although automated counters are fast and precise, sometimes the tests may show false results because certain conditions, such as red cells clumping together (agglutination) or high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), can interfere with counting. If the hemoglobin, MCV, and RDW readings are not correct, it can affect the MCH and MCHC values as well.

Sometimes you may have low MCHC but normal hemoglobin. Such a result may indicate anemia caused by iron deficiency or abnormal structure or functioning of hemoglobin because of inherited hemoglobin disorders (hemoglobinopathies). Conditions such as sudden blood loss, kidney failure, chronic illnesses, and bone marrow diseases can cause normochromic anemia, where a patient has anemia, but hemoglobin levels and MCHC levels are normal.

In combination with other values, your MCHC value can help your doctor diagnose the cause of your anemia symptoms, classify the type of anemia, and provide the right treatment. Average MCHC levels range between 32 and 36 gHb/100ml. MCHC value in combination with the other RBC indices generally helps in arriving at a diagnosis for the anemia symptoms, but some conditions may require additional tests.

Treatments for high or low MCHC values

The most common types of anemia can be treated with iron, folate, or vitamin B12 supplements.

Other types, particularly serious genetic anemia, may require:

• Blood transfusions
• Medications
• Bone marrow transplants

Talk with your doctor to identify the treatment that will work best for you.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about MCHC blood test

What does it mean if your MCHC is low?

MCHC blood test low value indicates that hemoglobin concentration is low in the red blood cells. The condition is known as hypochromic anemia and is most commonly caused by iron deficiency. It can be also caused by a group of inherited blood disorders known as thalassemia.

What does it mean when MCHC is high?

A high MCHC value means that you have a high percentage of hemoglobin in the RBCs. A high MCHC without symptoms may not be worrisome, but if you have anemia symptoms, it is likely caused by a deficiency in vitamins B9 (folate) and/or vitamin B12, or chemotherapy. This condition is known as hyperchromic anemia. Certain red blood cell disorders such as macrocytic anemia, hereditary spherocytosis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, homozygous sickle cell anemia, and hemoglobin C disease can also cause hyperchromic anemia.

Should I worry if my MCHC is low?

If your MCHC is low, the most common cause is iron deficiency. The usual treatment is supplemental iron, folate, and vitamin B12, which are essential nutrients for the bone marrow to produce healthy red blood cells. If low MCHC levels persist, your doctor may order additional tests to diagnose the cause and treat it appropriately.

What does it mean if your MCH is high in a blood test?

MCH blood test high values mean that there is a high content of hemoglobin in the red blood cell usually because the red blood cells are larger than normal. A high MCH value without any symptoms may not be a cause for concern, but if you have symptoms of anemia, it may be because of macrocytic anemia, a condition in which the bone marrow produces abnormally large RBCs. Macrocytic anemia may be treated with vitamin B9 (folate) and B12 supplements, and you may need further tests to find the underlying cause of macrocytic anemia.

Other conditions that can cause high MCH levels include:

• Some blood cancers
• Chemotherapy
• Certain antibiotic and antiviral medications
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Some types of liver disease
• Low thyroid activity (hypothyroidism)
• Deficiency of vitamin B12 and/or vitamin B9

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Medically Reviewed on 4/30/2024 References American Society of Hematology: "Anemia." Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences: "Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and cell deformability." Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition: "Iron and thermoregulation: a review." Johns Hopkins Medicine: "Hemolytic Anemia." Johns Hopkins Medicine: "Iron-Deficiency Anemia." Lab Tests Online: "Complete Blood Count (CBC)." McGill University: "Blood cell indices." Merck Manual: "Vitamin Deficiency Anemia." National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: "Anemia." National Institutes of Health: "In Brief: Your Guide to Anemia." National Institutes of Health: "Iron." University of Rochester Health Encyclopedia: "Hemoglobin." University of Rochester Health Encyclopedia: "What Are Red Blood Cells?" National Library of Medicine. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. “Chapter 152 Red Cell Indices.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK260/ National Library of Medicine. “Macrocytic Anemia.” Last update; July 11, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459295/ National Library of Medicine. PubMed Central. “Evaluation of low red blood cell mean corpuscular volume in an apheresis donor population.” Published online May 11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3421029/ National Library of Medicine. Medline Plus. “RBC Indices.” https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003648.htm Medscape. “Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC).” Updated: Nov 27, 2019. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2054497-overview WebMD. “What Are Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) Levels?” Reviewed on March 26, 2024. https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-are-mch-levels

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