What does it mean when your MCV MCH and MCHC are low?
A low mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) shows that someone’s red blood cells do not have enough hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein, and a lack of it may indicate anemia.
What is MCH and MCHC in a blood test?
MCH levels are the average amount of hemoglobin that is in each red blood cell. MCHC levels are the average weight of that hemoglobin based on the volume of red blood cells. Both are a reflection of the health of the hemoglobin in the blood.
What is MCV MCHC MCH?
Definition. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were first introduced by Wintrobe in 1929 to define the size (MCV) and hemoglobin content (MCH, MCHC) of red blood cells.
What does it mean if MCHC is low and MCV is high?
Using MCHC With Other Red Blood Cell Indices For instance, low MCHC and low MCV could indicate iron-deficiency anemia, thalassemia, sideroblastic anemia, or lead poisoning. A high MCHC and low MCV could indicate spherocytosis or sickle cell disease.
Why would MCV and MCh be high?
High MCH and MCV may indicate anemia (iron, B6, or copper), Vit b12 and folic acid deficiency or alcohol use. Even relatively small amount of alcohol 2-4 drinks per day can cause this. Other conditions that can cause high MCV and MCH are liver disease, jaundice, hypothyroidism.
What can cause high MCH levels?
High MCH value can often be caused by anemia due to a deficiency of B vitamins, particularly B-12 and folate . Both of these vitamins are required by your body in order to make red blood cells.
What causes a high MCH?
Causes of high MCH levels. High MCH scores are commonly a sign of macrocytic anemia. This condition occurs when the blood cells are too big, which can be a result of not having enough vitamin B12 or folic acid in the body.
What does a high MCV lab mean?
A high MCV count simply means that there is greater than normal RBC volume in the blood. If the anemia is present, the condition is called macrocytic anemia and in which case the MCV result could reach up to 150 femtoliters.