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Normal MCH level in the blood

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Normal MCH level in the blood
Last update: 07/01/2021

What is the normal range of MCH?

Men: 27 - 33 pg
Women: 27 - 33 pg
Children from 16 to 18 years old: 25 - 31 pg
Children from 6 to 16 years old: 24 - 30 pg
Children from 1 to 6 years old: 23 - 29 pg
Children from 6 months old to 1 year old: 24 - 30 pg
Babies from 2 months to 6 months old: 27 - 33 pg
Babies from 2 weeks old to 2 months old: 30 - 36 pg
Newborns: 34 - 40 pg

Why normal levels can differ across different labs?

Each laboratory must establish its own normal ranges for MCH in the blood. These ranges depend on the makeup of the local population, the technologies used and the accuracy of the measurement. There may be also slight differences in the normal levels according to age, gender, race or ethnic origin, geographic region, diet, type of sample and other relevant status.

Your doctor will study the results along with your medical record, screenings, physical condition, symptoms and any other relevant information about your situation.

What is MCH?

MCH is the acronym of Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin. MCH is a measure of the average weight of Hb (Hemoglobin) per RBC (Red Blood Cell).

Hemoglobin is the main protein present in the RBCs (Red Blood Cell) and it gives RBC its characteristic red color.

Hemoglobin is the responsible to carry oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues and transport back the carbon dioxide to the lungs to be exhaled in the respiratory process.

What is MCH test used for?

If MCH is below the normal range is called hypochromia. In case of hypochromia, there is a deficiency of hemoglobin and RBCs appear paler than normal.

If MCH is above the normal range is called hyperchromia. The excess of hemoglobin causes a more intense reddish color in RBCs.

MCH test is useful in case of anemia, when the hemoglobin value is below the normal range. MCH test is used to discern between different types of anemia.

Besides, MCH values usually correlate with MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume) values. Macrocytic anemias (MCV high) are usually hyperchromic and microcytic anemias (MCV low) are usually hypochromic. The reason is that large red blood cells have a lot of hemoglobin inside and small red blood cells have less hemoglobin than normal.

A high MCH is usually seen in the case of macrocytic anemia, for example megaloblastic anemia (due to vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency). A low MCH is usually seen in the case of iron-deficiency anemia, thalassemia or sideroblastic anemia.

Where can I find more information about MCH level in the blood?

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Which values are considered a normal MCH level in the blood?

The following values are considered to be normal values:

IMPORTANT: These levels are expressed in pg (picograms). They are an example of a healthy woman of about 45 years old with no known disease and not taking any medication. The ranges can be different depending on the laboratory or on your personal circumstances.

MCH
Normality
27 pg27.1 pg27.2 pg27.3 pg27.4 pg27.5 pg27.6 pg27.7 pg
27.8 pg27.9 pg28 pg28.1 pg28.2 pg28.3 pg28.4 pg28.5 pg
28.6 pg28.7 pg28.8 pg28.9 pg29 pg29.1 pg29.2 pg29.3 pg
29.4 pg29.5 pg29.6 pg29.7 pg29.8 pg29.9 pg30 pg30.1 pg
30.2 pg30.3 pg30.4 pg30.5 pg30.6 pg30.7 pg30.8 pg30.9 pg
31 pg31.1 pg31.2 pg31.3 pg31.4 pg31.5 pg31.6 pg31.7 pg
31.8 pg31.9 pg32 pg32.1 pg32.2 pg32.3 pg32.4 pg32.5 pg
32.6 pg32.7 pg32.8 pg32.9 pg33 pg   
Medically reviewed by our Medical staff on 07/01/2021

Bibliography

  • Concise Book of Medical Laboratory Technology: Methods and Interpretations. 2nd Edition. 2015. Ramnik Sood. ISBN: 978-93-5152-333-8. Pag. 217.
  • A Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Test. 9th edition. Frances Fischbach. Marshall B. Dunning III. 2014. Pag 100. ISBN-10: 1451190891.
  • Laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures with nursing diagnoses (8th ed), Jane Vincent Corbett, Angela Denise Banks, ISBN: 978-0-13-237332-6, Pag. 35.

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