MCHC — Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration
MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration) is the average concentration of hemoglobin in red blood cells, measured in grams per deciliter (g/dL). This parameter reflects how densely hemoglobin is 'packed' within each erythrocyte. Unlike MCH, which shows the absolute amount of hemoglobin per cell, MCHC evaluates its concentration relative to the cell volume.
Normal MCHC values:
- Adults: 32–36 g/dL
- Children: 30–36 g/dL
Why MCHC is measured:
- To clarify the type of anemia
- To assess hemoglobin saturation in erythrocytes
- To detect disorders of hematopoiesis and iron metabolism
Decreased MCHC (hypochromia):
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Thalassemia
- Chronic inflammatory diseases
- Lead poisoning
Increased MCHC (rare):
- Hereditary spherocytosis
- Hemolytic anemias
- Severe dehydration
- Errors during blood collection or storage (hemolysis)
Features:
- MCHC rarely exceeds normal limits, unlike other erythrocyte indices.
- Markedly increased MCHC is often related to laboratory artifacts, such as cell destruction during blood sampling.
- Low MCHC indicates insufficient hemoglobin in erythrocytes and is often accompanied by microcytosis (reduced MCV).
How the test is performed:
- Blood is drawn from a finger or vein, preferably in the morning and fasting.
- Avoid alcohol, smoking, physical, and emotional stress before the test.