Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) is the average quantity of hemoglobin per red blood cell in the blood. It is used to help evaluate anemia. MCH is included in Nordic Wellth’s Complete Blood Count (CBC) test.
Why test MCH?
Regular iron testing is essential to discover risk factors for lifestyle diseases and take timely action. Symptoms of anemia, such as weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and pale skin, indicate the need for testing. Monitoring blood values is crucial as you make lifestyle changes or undergo treatments to ensure you maintain healthy iron levels.
What do the results mean?
What causes high MCH levels?
Various things can cause high MCH, including liver disease and alcoholism, insufficient stomach acid production, megaloblastic anaemia caused by folate and B12 deficiencies, and several other types of anemia. MCH results tend to mirror MCV results.
Symptoms of high MCH levels
High mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) levels indicate an increased amount of hemoglobin per red blood cell. Symptoms of high MCH levels, which can be associated with macrocytic anemia or other underlying conditions, include fatigue, weakness, pale or yellowish skin, shortness of breath, and dizziness. These symptoms arise because the red blood cells may be larger than normal and less effective at delivering oxygen throughout the body. High MCH can also be linked to vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, liver disease, or hypothyroidism.
What causes low MCH levels?
This indicates that RBCs are smaller than normal (microcytic). This can be caused by iron deficiency anemia or thalassemias, B6 deficiency, internal bleeding, heavy metal burden, and increased vitamin C need. MCH results tend to mirror MCV results.
Symptoms of low MCH levels
Low mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) levels indicate less hemoglobin per red blood cell, often due to microcytic anemia. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, pale or sallow skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, and cold extremities, commonly linked to iron deficiency anemia, chronic disease, or thalassemia.
More Information
Values that are slightly outside the reference range can be normal. Reference ranges are not perfect and approximately 5% of healthy individuals may have results outside the reference range.
Preparations for this test
No preparation is needed for this test.
On the day of the test
Always take your ID with you when going for a test. Arrive early and sit for 15 minutes before the test is taken.