Mean Corpuscular Hgb Concentration (MCHC)

Knowing the size and shape of your red blood cells can help your provider determine if you have a certain type of anemia, a condition in which your body does not make enough healthy red blood cells. There are four types of red blood cell indices: Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), which measures the average size of your red blood cells; Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), which measures the average amount of hemoglobin in a single red blood cell; Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), which measures how concentrated (close together) the hemoglobin is in your red blood cells (it also includes a calculation of the size and volume of your red blood cells); and Red cell distribution width (RDW), which measures differences in the volume and size of your red blood cells.

If one or more of these indices are not normal, it may mean you have some type of anemia.

You may get this test as part of a complete blood count, which is often included in a routine checkup. You may also need this test if you have symptoms of anemia, which may include shortness of breath, weakness or fatigue, headache, dizziness, arrhythmia, pale skin, and cold hands and feet.

You will get results for each of the indices. For mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), if the average amount of hemoglobin is lower than normal, it may mean you have iron deficiency anemia or thalassemia. If the average amount of hemoglobin is higher than normal, it may mean you have hemolytic anemia (a type of anemia that happens when red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be replaced) or hereditary spherocytosis (a rare genetic disorder that causes anemia and gallstones).

Talk to your health care provider if you have questions about your results. Your provider will consider your symptoms, medical history, and the results of other blood tests to understand your results.