Low MCH values may be a sign of anemia or a blood disease calledthalassemia.
This yields the average amount of hemoglobin per red blood cell.
Anything above or below the reference range is considered abnormal.
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MCH reference ranges vary by age and sometimes by lab.
They are generally considered normal at the following values:
What Does Hemoglobin Do?
Hemoglobin is a protein that transports the oxygen your organs and tissues need to function.
As such, if your MCH is low, your blood will be less red.
If your MCH is high, your blood will be more red.
A low MCH may also be due to conditions that causehemolysis(the destruction of red blood cells).
This is a routine test performed by a blood draw.
It may be ordered for a routine check-up or if you have signs of anemia.
By comparing these values, the lab and health provider can better narrow the possible causes.
Other tests can then be ordered to confirm or rule out the suspicions.
For instance, a high MCH and high MCV are characteristic of macrocytosis and macrocytic anemia.
Summary
The MCH blood test is part of a complete blood count test.
The MCH shows the average amount of hemoglobin in your red blood cells.
In adults, an MCH of 27 to 31 pg/cell is considered normal.
Your healthcare provider can diagnose the cause with the MCH as a part of the clinical approach.
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