When combined with oxygen, hemoglobin is what gives blood its red color. A person's annual check-up with their general practitioner—or, when their doctor needs more information to help with a potential diagnosis—typically includes a blood test known as a complete blood count CBC. Technically a series of multiple tests, the idea behind a CBC is to get information on three types of a patient's blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
A small sample of blood is required for a CBC and is typically drawn from a vein in a person's arm using a needle. Once this part is over, lab experts analyze the blood and provide a report to the physician who ordered the test. When the results of a blood test are ready, they provide details on how many cells there are in the blood, and the physical characteristics of the cells, such as size, shape, and content.
A person's MCH value typically parallels their mean corpuscular volume MCV level, which measures the actual size of the red blood cells themselves. For this reason, a doctor may decide to skip this part of the CBC. But that doesn't mean MCH levels are useless: they also provide important information regarding whether anemia is hyper-, hypo-, or normal. Here is a general overview of what these levels can say about a person's health.
But in addition to anemia, it may also be a sign of conditions including:. People with low MCH levels may experience symptoms including:. People with high MCH levels may experience symptoms including:. If a patient's MCH levels appear to be higher or lower than normal, it will result in a discussion with their physician about what this means to their overall health—including potential treatment options, if necessary.
There are a variety of reasons why MCH levels may be outside the normal range, and it doesn't necessarily mean that a person has a serious illness or even cause for concern.
Although there is a lot that doctors can learn about a person's health through a CBC—including their MCH levels—it is only one aspect of making an accurate diagnosis.
This requires open and honest conversations between healthcare professionals and patients in order to get a more complete picture of what may be causing a particular blood test result, including MCH levels. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Cleveland Clinic. Complete blood count: Test details. Updated September 9, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
Iron injections may be necessary for people with disorders that prevent iron absorption. Other people may require regular transfusions with iron-rich blood. People should be open with their doctor about what they eat and drink during the testing process to make diagnosis and treatment as smooth as possible. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells. Oxygen entering the lungs adheres to this protein, allowing blood cells to transport oxygen throughout the….
Macrocytic anemia is a type of anemia characterized by abnormally large red blood cells. The size of the red blood cells means there are fewer of them….
A variety of conditions and lifestyle factors can lead to a reduction in hemoglobin. Common causes include anemia, pregnancy, and thyroid conditions…. For some types of blood tests, a person may need to fast beforehand. In this article, learn about fasting for blood tests. Anemia is the most common blood disorder.
The body does not have enough red blood cells and is unable to deliver enough oxygen around the body. MCH levels in blood tests: What do they mean? Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R. What is MCH? What is a CBC test? Causes of low MCH levels. Causes of high MCH levels. Treatment for MCH level imbalance. Share on Pinterest Changes to a diet, including adding iron-rich leafy green vegetables, may help to increase MCH levels.
Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage. What's to know about hemoglobin levels? Macrocytic anemia: Symptoms and treatment. Medically reviewed by Elaine K.
Luo, M. How to increase hemoglobin: Home remedies. Medically reviewed by Daniel Murrell, MD. What to know about fasting before a blood test. Newsletter Sign Up. We do not accept health insurance. You will not be reimbursed by your insurance.
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Reviewed By: Dr. MCH stands for Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin, and is a calculation of the average amount of hemoglobin contained in each of a person's red blood cells.
Hemoglobin is the substance that carries oxygen from the lungs, to the cells through the bloodstream. Abnormally high or low levels of MCH, as determined by blood testing, can be an indication of a number of problems in the body, ranging from nutrient deficiencies to chronic diseases. MCH is not measured directly, but calculated based on the hemoglobin value Hgb , which is the total measure of hemoglobin in the blood; and the RBC, which is the number of red blood cells in the blood.
MCH levels over 34 pg are generally considered abnormally high. The most common reason for high MCH is macrocytic anemia, which is a blood disorder in which the body fails to produce enough red blood cells. In macrocytic anemia, red blood cells that are produced are larger than usual, each carrying more hemoglobin than normal-sized cells would. This condition can be caused by deficient levels of vitamin B or folic acid in the body; nutrients found in foods like fish, liver, green leafy vegetables and fortified cereals.
These contribute to efficient red blood cell production and may be lacking in your diet, you may not be able to absorb them or there may be other reasons your body cannot process them.
Symptoms of macrocytic anemia can include:. Since this can interfere with heart function, early diagnosis of macrocytic anemia is important. Other possible reasons for a high MCH test include several other forms of anemia, thyroid dysfunction, chemotherapy, certain infections, over use of estrogen-containing medications, some forms of leukemia and hereditary spherocytosis; a condition that causes a shortage of red blood cells.
MCH levels below 26 pg are considered abnormally low. Common causes of Low MCH include blood loss, iron deficiency and microcytic anemia, which is a condition in which red blood cells are abnormally small, carrying less hemoglobin. Other potential causes of a low MCH test include hemoglobinopathy, which is a group of disorders that cause changes in the structure of hemoglobin, and iron-deficiency anemia.
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