Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
Sample for Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
- It is done on blood in EDTA (anticoagulant).
- Whole blood is stable 6 hours at 25 °C and 24 hours at 4 °C.
- Fetal blood is collected by percutaneous umbilical blood.
Indication for Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
- This is part of CBC (Complete blood count).
- This helps to diagnose the type of anemia.
- Mostly advised diagnosing macrocytic anemia.
Definition of Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
- Definition:
- This measures the average hemoglobin concentration or percentage of hemoglobin within a single RBC.
- On the basis of MCHC, RBCs may be classified into:
- Normochromic.
- Hypochromic.
- Both MCH and MCHC values are used to determine the content of Hemoglobin in the RBCs.
- If MCHC is normal, caused by low mchc and high MCV.
- Then RBCs are referred to as normochromic.
- If MCHC is less than normal, then RBCs are referred to as hypochromic.
- Hypochromic RBC when Decreased MCHC indicates low hemoglobin.
- The above normal level may be seen in alteration of RBC shape like spherocytosis, transfusion reaction, and erythroblastosis fetalis.
Interfering factors for Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) are:
- False increased MCHC is seen in the following:
- The abnormal size of the RBCs may affect the MCHC.
- Increased level of lipids in the blood gives a high result because of high hemoglobin.
- Intravascular hemolysis gives free hemoglobin, which is calculated by the autoanalyzer.
- Sickle cell anemia.
- Hereditary spherocytosis.
- Few cases of autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
- Sever lipemia of the serum.
- Rouleaux formation or agglutination.
- In the case of increased concentration of heparin.
- Decreased MCHC is seen in marked leucocytosis (>50,000/cmm).
Normal MCHC
Source 1
Age | g Hb/dL | |
Fetal blood | ||
18 to 20 weeks | 32.0 ± 2.3 | |
21 to 22 weeks | 31.7 ± 2.78 | |
23 to 25 weeks | 32.1 ± 3.20 | |
26 to 30 weeks | 32.1 ± 3.60 | |
Cord blood | 30 to 36 | |
0.5 month | 28 to 35 | |
0ne month | 28 to 36 | |
2 month | 28 to 35 | |
4 month | 29 to 37 | |
6 to 12 month | 32 to 37 | |
1 to 2 year | 32 to 38 | |
3 to 11 year | 32 to 37 | |
Male | Female | |
12 to 14 year | 32 to 37 | 32 to 37 |
15 to 17 year | 32 to 36 | 32 to 36 |
18 to 44 year | 32 to 37 | 32 to 36 |
45 to 64 year | 32 to 36 | 31 to 36 |
65 to 74 year | 31 to 36 | 32 to 36 |
- To convert into SI unit x 10 = g Hb/L
Source 2
- Adult = 32 to 36 g/dL or 32 to 36%
- Newborn = 32 to 33 g/dL or 32 to 33%.
Normal MCHC values are seen in the following:
- Normochromic anemia (hemolytic anemias).
Decreased values of MCHC are seen in the following:
- When MCHC is < 30 g/dL.
- Hypochromic microcytic anemias:
- Iron deficiency anemia.
- Microcytic anemia.
- Chronic blood loss.
- Thalassemia.
- Hypochromic microcytic anemias:
Increased values of MCHC are seen in the following:
- Hereditary spherocytosis is suspected when MCHC is >36 g/dL.
- Newborns and infants.
- Erythroblastosis fetalis.
- Not an increase in pernicious anemia.