One of the 24 main parameters studied in blood tests is mchc, which belongs to the category of erythrocyte indices. Identifying this value is necessary to clarify the category and characteristics of anemia, which today is observed in almost all residents of large cities and metropolitan areas. Very familiar to many constant feeling fatigue, weakness, dizziness, a feeling of heaviness in the head and body, but few people know that this is how anemia manifests itself.

What is mchc in blood test

The mchc indicator in a blood test indicates the average concentration in 1 red blood cell. Essentially, this value indicates how saturated red blood cells are with hemoglobin, which is a complex protein formed around iron atoms. mchc is calculated as the ratio of the amount of protein to the volume of 1 red blood cell.

It should be noted that the concentration of this protein in blood cells does not depend on their volume and cannot show the exact level of protein with an iron atom in the red blood cell. The data measurement is recorded in either grams per deciliter or grams per liter.

It is important to distinguish the concept of mchc from mch, which shows the average protein content in a red blood cell, that is, the mass of hemoglobin in 1 cell. In contrast, the mchc value does not indicate a certain amount of hemoglobin, but how tightly it fills the red blood cell.

Preparing and conducting analysis

The determination of this indicator is included in the general blood test, so the patient is prescribed this particular procedure. Blood sampling is carried out in the morning, always on an empty stomach, that is, the patient must come at treatment room on an empty stomach, maintaining an interval between the time of the procedure and the last meal of at least 8 - 9 hours.

It is important to properly prepare for donating blood. About a day before this moment, you should refrain from physical activity and avoid stressful situations.

For 3 days, you must stop consuming spicy, too fatty, fried, smoked foods, as well as pickles and marinades, carbonated and alcoholic drinks. You should also not drink coffee or black tea at least 8 to 10 hours before the procedure. It's better to drink clean water.

You should come to the treatment room in advance, about half an hour before the appointed time, in order to have time to bring your body back to normal after walking or climbing stairs and to calm down. Smokers should refrain from smoking approximately 2 hours before blood collection.

Norm mchc in adults and children

The value is measured in either grams per liter or grams per deciliter, depending on the specific laboratory. The standards for this indicator also largely depend on the laboratory, since in each medical center various equipment installed. As a rule, the value depends only on the patient’s age, and not on his gender, so the standards in each laboratory are developed by age group.

There are also tables of norms in grams per deciliter:

The role of the mchc indicator in the diagnosis of diseases

The mchc value in a blood test is one of the most constant indicators, so very often doctors rely on it to eliminate possible medical errors when conducting research in laboratories and diagnosing diseases. Most often mchc is used for:

• Assessment of the correctness and effectiveness of therapy for anemia of various categories.
• Diagnosing possible hypochromia.
• In the differential diagnosis of anemia.

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IN modern world iron deficiency anemia is a very common pathology, which is due to the presence of many chronic diseases in people different ages, as well as insufficient amount of iron consumed in food.

In some cases, the problem also arises with a well-balanced diet enriched with iron-containing foods, if in this case there is improper absorption of the elements in the intestines. Anemia can occur for many reasons, but in the diagnosis of this disease and its characteristics, the mchc value plays an important role.

Increased mchc in blood test

Reasons why msn (average hemoglobin concentration in a red blood cell) in a blood test may be elevated:

• Anemia of the hyperchromic type, in particular with spherocytosis, ovalocytosis, deficiency folic acid and vitamin B 12.
• Disturbances in the metabolism and balance of water and electrolytes in the body.

High rates are observed in newborns and young children, which is not considered a deviation and gradually resolves on its own as the baby grows older.

In adults, an increase in the average hb concentration in erythrocytes (mchc) is quite rare. However, it should be taken into account that if mchc is very elevated, if its level is more than 380 g/l and continues to increase, there is a high risk of protein crystallization with an iron atom.

In most cases high performance This parameter does not indicate the presence of any disease, but reports an error when conducting research in the laboratory, since an increased concentration of this protein in 1 red blood cell causes its morphological changes and leads to destruction.

There is only one disease in which constantly high levels of mchc are observed - spherocytosis, which is a hereditary pathology. The disease falls into the category of hemolytic anemia, and its main symptom is a defect in the membranes of red blood cells.

Most often, when mchc is elevated in a blood test, it is due to laboratory technical errors caused by:

• Incorrect determination of hemoglobin parameters, as well as hematocrit.
• Violation of the procedure for collecting blood for further research.
• Violation of storage of the collected material, as a result of which partial disintegration of red cells began.

Reduced mchc in blood test

Let's look at the reasons why the average concentration of hb (hemoglobin) in erythrocytes (msns) is reduced. A decrease in the indicator indicates the patient has hypochromia, characterized by insufficient saturation of red blood cells with hemoglobin. As a rule, this condition is associated with certain pathologies when the natural production of protein is disrupted.

The reason for the decrease in mchc often lies in various types anemia, but the condition can also be caused by poisoning with lead and its derivatives, hypovitaminosis, as well as some hereditary diseases in which iron metabolism is severely impaired.

The reasons for the decrease in mchc levels can be considered:

• Iron deficiency anemia of hypochromic and sideroblastic nature.
• Posthemorrhagic anemia of a chronic type.
• Violation of the exchange and balance between water and electrolytes.
• Hemoglobinopathy, in which the production of red cells is disrupted, while certain amino acids are replaced in its chains.
• Anemia of the megaloblastic type, in which the volume of red blood cells increases, which is why they are not fully saturated with hemoglobin.
• Some categories of thalassemia, which are hereditary diseases associated with certain genetic mutations.

If the natural synthesis of hemoglobin is disrupted in the body, then the mchc indicator decreases almost last. For this reason, if other indicators and blood test values ​​are normal, but a decrease in mchc is observed, we can conclude that there is an error and the result is unreliable. In this case, you should retake the analysis in another laboratory.

Pathologies of the hematopoietic system are divided into several categories. Some are associated with functional activity disorders bone marrow. Others are caused by abnormalities on the part of the formed cells themselves, after they mature. This happens much more often. Several laboratory techniques are used to diagnose such pathologies.

MCHC in a blood test is one of the indicators of the functional capacity of red blood cells, how much hemoglobin they can carry and how saturated they are with it, and the abbreviation can be deciphered as mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration or hemocritical hemoglobin concentration.

However, the method is different from others. The task is to study how much hemoglobin one shaped cell contains. That is, how capable it is of transporting oxygen.

Deviations rarely occur due to natural causes. In most cases, we are talking about obvious pathology. Not always dangerous, at least in the early stages. Treatment is prescribed only after a thorough examination of the general condition.

A blood test for MCHC allows you to examine two main indicators:

• To transport oxygen to tissues, transport waste material, carbon dioxide, the human body uses hemoglobin.

This substance, due to the atomic iron in its composition, effectively binds gases and just as easily, without generating a large amount of energy, disintegrates.

To study this indicator there is a special analysis column. MCHC is performed for a different purpose. As part of the diagnosis, doctors examine how much hemoglobin a formed cell can carry.

This value depends on the general state of health, the presence or absence of pathologies of the hematopoietic system itself. The average concentration of hemoglobin in a red blood cell determines its functionality. Red cells solve the problem of gas exchange.

• There is a second indicator that is assessed during the study. This is the hematocrit. It is calculated as the number of red blood cells in relation to the total blood volume. Based on the results, an index is obtained.

This technique allows you to evaluate the functional capabilities of red blood cells as a whole: the nature of gas exchange and, indirectly, the general condition of the bone marrow.

Fundamentally, the analysis for MCHC is no different from others. It is also carried out during a standard general analysis.

This method alone is not enough to diagnose diseases. Fluctuations in MCHC indicate a disturbance in gas exchange and hematopoiesis, but one can only state the fact that there is a problem.

Why, what is to blame, what diagnosis the patient has - this is not known. More research is needed.

Standard tables

Among women

In men

In children

You won't be able to decipher the analysis yourself. Yes, laboratories indicate reference values, that is, normal values, directly in the protocol and conclusion. But the result itself will say little. A comprehensive assessment is needed.

Causes of increase and methods of treatment

An increase in the MCHC indicator indicates that red blood cells carry more hemoglobin than usual, and since this substance is also a pigment that gives the cells their rich hue, the color indicator also changes.

This happens in many cases.

Megaloblastic anemia

In other words, a disorder of hematopoiesis due to vitamin B12 deficiency. Less commonly involved is folic acid. If one or the other is insufficient, the maturation of shaped structures in the bone marrow is impossible, and mchc in the blood test will be increased. Vitamins are responsible for the normal development of red blood cells.

Insufficiently formed cells are significantly larger than normal ones. They carry a lot of hemoglobin, but due to their structural features they are not able to bind oxygen and carbon oxidation products.

When hematopoiesis completely switches to abnormal tracks, a paradoxical situation is observed. The cells carry huge amounts of pigment, but don't work as well as they should. An increase in hematocrit and MCHC is most often due to megaloblastic anemia.

Treatment: in the early stages it is much easier to deal with the problem. When the disease reaches an advanced phase, this is also possible, but the duration of therapy will be much longer.

The main way to correct the disorder is to restore the supply of vitamins. They are administered artificially, in large doses. The concentration is gradually reduced.

The problem may also be in the absorption of B12 or folic acid. For example, due to inflammatory pathologies small intestine or other violations. In this case, you need to fight the primary disease. At the same time introducing vitamin-based medications. Profile specialist - hematologist.

Smoking

Tobacco consumption, especially in large quantities, “hits” the hematopoietic system. The problem is not nicotine, although it is certainly harmful.

The outer shell of a cigarette, the dye, contains many substances that, when burned, form dangerous poisons. For example, oxides of cadmium, arsenic, volatile carbon compounds (methane). This is only a small part.

All of them depress the hematopoietic system. Although formally the red blood cells remain normal in size, the hematocrit decreases. That is, the number of cells becomes smaller.

For this reason, gas exchange occurs much more slowly than usual. In order to somehow compensate for the current state of affairs, the body seeks to strengthen the functional capabilities of those cells that exist. The amount of hemoglobin per red blood cell increases.

This is not a one-time or rapid process. The longer a person smokes, the more noticeable the problem.

Treatment: the main thing to do is to quit the bad habit. Then, as needed, doctors prescribe a course of therapy and supportive techniques. But the main task is to quit smoking.

Alcohol consumption

Especially for a long time and in excessive quantities. Alcohol works in much the same way as cigarettes. Inhibits bone marrow function. Cells cannot mature and are released half-ready.

The effect is identical. Since these structures are larger in size than normal ones, more hemoglobin is placed in them. This does not change the situation, since they still cannot transfer gases due to their irregular structure, the thickness of the cell membrane and other factors.

Treatment: hematologists are involved in the treatment of organic disorders themselves. The task is to eliminate alcohol from life and at the same time support and stimulate normal hematopoiesis.

Addiction specialists can help you quit your addiction. Solving both issues at once is not easy; it will take time. If a person has been drinking for a long time, suffers from alcoholism, full recovery takes from several months to six months or even more.

Some medicines

Medicines can also interfere with hematopoiesis. Three groups of drugs are especially dangerous in this regard:

• The first are hormonal or glucocorticoid-based drugs. They inhibit bone marrow function. Red blood cells do not mature in sufficient quantities. Many undeveloped forms emerge into the mainstream - large in size and with excess hemoglobin. A similar effect can develop immediately after starting treatment or later. It all depends on the characteristics of the individual patient’s body.
• The second are sedatives and tranquilizers. They provoke approximately the same result.
• Still others are psychotropics. Antidepressants and neuroleptics.

Treatment: no special therapy is needed. It is enough to give up the drugs and everything will return to normal on its own.

This is not always possible: for example, in schizophrenia and organic psychoses, antipsychotics are constantly needed. Or a patient with autoimmune inflammatory disorders needs courses of glucocorticoids.

Then the issue is resolved by simply replacing the medication. They choose something else.

Genetic pathologies

In the context of the situation under consideration, they are relatively rare. We are talking about disorders that are inherited. With “defective” material from parents.

A spontaneous mutation is possible. Genes have nothing to do with it, this is a sporadic episode. The degree of impairment depends on what material is altered.

Treatment. As such, there is no specific therapy. At the very least, it won’t be able to radically influence the situation. The violation is encoded in the foundation of the body; we have not yet learned how to edit the genome. Doctors resort to symptomatic treatment. The investigation is being corrected.

Excessive amount of fat in the body

In other words, hyperlipidemia. There are many forms of this condition. All of them are equally dangerous from the point of view of hematopoietic disorders.

Treatment. You need to reduce the amount of fat. For this purpose, special preparations are used. , for example, Atoris or similar. To quickly remove excess cholesterol or other lipids.

If they are ineffective, heavier drugs are used - fibrates. Nicotinic acid also performs well.

In general, specific medications are selected based on the form of hyperlipidemia.

Autoimmune anemia

They are extremely rare. Usually secondary to the underlying disease. The inflammatory process leads to the destruction of formed blood cells. The body turns on compensatory mechanisms and oversaturates red blood cells with hemoglobin.

Treatment. Drugs are used to weaken the immune response. For example, glucocorticoids. Prednisolone, Dexamethasone and others.

They differ in their degree of activity and therapeutic potential. From the weakest (Beclazon) to the most powerful (Betamethasone).

If they do not bring the desired effect, they resort to immunosuppressants. Those drugs that directly inhibit the synthesis of cells of the body's defense system.

Attention:

That those that other medications cannot be used for a long time. Is it dangerous.

Electrolyte imbalances in the body

Change in the proportional ratio of potassium, calcium, sodium magnesium and water. Sometimes it is episodic. For example, after a severe physical activity etc.

However, such situations do not fundamentally affect the state of hematopoiesis. When the process becomes persistent, problems begin.

Treatment: , other salts. Also a change in drinking regime. Under the supervision of a specialist.

If the mchc indicator is increased, this is always a consequence of a pathological process. Which one exactly needs to be clarified.

Causes of decline and treatment

There are also many factors that cause the decline in the indicator:

Thalassemia and other hereditary disorders

During this disorder, insufficient hemoglobin is produced. The pathology is of genetic origin. It is transmitted in a recessive manner.

That is, under an unfavorable combination of circumstances, if both parents carry defective material and pass it on to their offspring. There are other disorders besides thalassemia.

Treatment. There is no special therapy as such. Symptomatic correction is necessary.

Since there are many manifestations of the disease, it is impossible to give universal recommendations. Doctors proceed from the clinical situation. Hemoglobin synthesis is disrupted in one of several phases.

Vitamin B6 deficiency

Not fundamentally different from B12 or folic acid deficiency. The difference concerns the course of treatment. The substance is administered externally in order to correct the deficiency and restore hematopoiesis.

Liver pathologies

Of different character. These are mainly hepatitis, inflammatory processes and cirrhosis. That is, the death of organ cells.

In both cases, pathologies provoke deficiency. Dysfunctional disorder. The liver cannot work as before, so generalized disorders in the hematopoietic system begin.

The bone marrow functions intermittently, hemoglobin is poorly synthesized, MCHC in the blood is low, and coagulopathies begin. The more advanced the disorder, the worse the situation overall.

Treatment. It is necessary to restore liver function and at the same time protect it from harmful effects and prevent the progression of the disease. For this, hepatoprotectors are used: Essentiale, Karsil and similar ones. They are taken in courses over a long period of time.

Regular follow-up with a gastroenterologist is indicated. It is even better if there is a highly specialized specialist in the access area - a hepatologist.

Iron-deficiency anemia

Another type of disease. This time it is associated with iron deficiency. As mentioned earlier, hemoglobin contains an Fe atom. This makes it active, capable of binding gases and transporting them. If there is not enough substance, there is nothing to synthesize hemoglobin from.

A meager amount of pigment leads to the fact that red blood cells are poorly filled with it. They have a pale color.

If such a pathological process persists for a long time, hematopoiesis switches to a different channel: too many formed cells are produced, a significant part of them are immature.

Treatment. Pretty simple. If the average concentration of hb in erythrocytes is below normal, loading doses of iron are prescribed. For better absorption, it is administered by injection. For a long time. Until the body recovers and starts working on its own.

On the other hand, the problem is not always the lack of substance. Sometimes the body cannot absorb iron due to problems with the digestive tract.

Then the main efforts should be directed towards eliminating the primary pathology.

Some poisonings.

For example, lead or mercury. MCHC decreases because heavy metal poisons slow down hematopoiesis. This is temporary, but high concentration toxic component in the body, possible dangerous consequences. Up to and including death. Treatment may simply not be on time.

On the other hand, these substances have the unpleasant property of accumulating in tissues and affecting the body for a long time, albeit to a lesser extent.

Treatment. Detoxification. Strictly in stationary conditions. With full health control. In particular, the liver of cardio-vascular system, digestive tract.

Infectious diseases in the acute phase

Quite a rare reason. However, hemoglobin levels fall with viral and bacterial pathologies. Especially if they are difficult.

Treatment. The underlying disease must be eliminated. Then the indicators will return to normal on their own. Antibiotics, stimulators of interferon production, and also fungicides are used if fungi are to blame.

Immunomodulators, vitamin-mineral complexes, local antiseptics in the form of solutions and other forms are prescribed as needed. Possibly anti-inflammatory.

The reasons for the decrease in the average concentration of hemoglobin in erythrocytes are also always pathological, mainly associated with disruption of the liver and the hematopoietic system itself.

What additional examinations are needed?

MCHC provides an opportunity to state the fact that something is wrong. But what is the reason is a separate question. To answer, we need auxiliary diagnostic methods.

• Consultation with a hematologist and other specialists in the field. With an oral interview and anamnesis.
• Complete blood count (CBC).
• Advanced Biochemistry. Almost the main way. Because only with the help of this method can one examine the levels of micro- and macroelements and other substances responsible for hematopoiesis.
• Ultrasound of organs abdominal cavity. First of all, doctors are interested in the condition of the liver.
• Consultation with a geneticist if there is a suspicion that the pathology is hereditary.

It's enough.

The correction is intended to resolve two issues. The first is to eliminate the source of the violation. The second is to manage the symptoms. Sometimes all that remains is to fight the manifestations. For example, with genetic abnormalities.

MCHC is one of almost 25 indicators that doctors evaluate as part of the standard OBC; the technique is used to assess the nature of activity and the condition of red blood cells.

On the other hand, the synthesis of this substance is studied in the same way and deviations are detected. In any case, the study is carried out directly as part of a general blood test. It is better to leave the decoding to the doctor.

Blood is responsible for feeding the cells in the human body. Transported hemoglobin, which is found in red blood cells, is responsible for oxygen transport. For every organism there are normal indicators hemoglobin, but if there are deviations from the norm, it is recommended to do more detailed tests. This analysis will be a test for MSHC, which shows the average level of hemoglobin in red blood cells. This indicator is important for diagnosing anemia of various etiologies and other diseases.

MSHC depends on the ratio of the volume of leukocytes, platelets, erythrocytes to the liquid components of blood.

This analysis cannot exceed acceptable limits. If during the examination the MSHC is higher, then this may be a mistake by the laboratory technician. The reason may be a poorly washed test tube or the use of expired chemical reagents. The laboratory technician's mistake may consist of incorrect setup of the analyzer. Exceeding MCHC occurs when red blood cells are damaged and subsequently released into the plasma. Visually damaged blood components become pink. In such a situation, doctors recommend retaking the test.

MCHC normal in blood.

The MCHC measurement is taken into account in grams per liter. The norm may vary in different groups of patients, for example, in children and adults. As the baby grows, blood tests change more widely than in older patients. The child should be examined additionally when it is noticed that the normal values ​​are two or more times higher. In general, the norm for children is 280–380 g/l. In an adult patient, the norm is slightly lower than in a child and is equal to 260–360 g/l.

When deciphering blood values, a measurement in g/dL may occur. On this scale, the norm for an adult is the range from 32 to 36 g/dl. And for a child it varies from 28 to 38 g/dl.

How to take the test so that its decoding becomes more accurate? The examination is done on an empty stomach, in a laboratory that conducts high-quality research.

Regardless of the presence of the disease or its absence, it is necessary to do general analysis blood once every 6 months, even if there are no complaints about your health. Most often, employees of schools and kindergartens should undergo such examination; people working in the catering industry and in heavy hazardous production.

The doctor can evaluate how all body systems operate and whether there are problems in the organ system. In some cases, the doctor himself recommends an additional test to calculate this indicator.

Such examinations are usually carried out for congenital spherocytosis; if a person is constantly lethargic and feels weak; he gets tired quickly; frequent drowsiness occurs; the patient suffers from attacks of nausea and vomiting; if a person is constantly apathetic or depressed.

The therapist can identify symptoms that he considers grounds for sending a person for such an analysis. He has the right to send the patient for examination if oxygen starvation occurs.

How to prepare for analysis?

Why might the index rise?

When this index increases, most likely there are many mutated red blood cells in the blood that are too large. This occurs due to vitamin B12 deficiency. Due to its deficiency, the number of red blood cells decreases, they mutate and increase in size.

What else could cause MCHC to increase? This occurs due to constant chronic oxygen starvation (often people living in mountainous areas or climbers are susceptible to it).

The index also increases with anemia, when hemoglobin increases and the number of cells decreases, but they reach a larger size.

Another reason for an increase in the index is hypothyroidism. The pathology is characterized by a decrease in the hormone responsible for the functioning of the bone marrow. Then hemoglobin accumulates in red blood cells.

The level of MCHC can increase with neoplasms in the liver, which are malignant or benign in nature, and with inflammatory diseases of this organ.

The same thing happens due to pathologies in the kidneys, heart, diabetes mellitus, for oncology and lung diseases.

The level of MCHC rises and when taking certain medicines, for example, hormonal drugs, sedatives, contraceptives. Vasoconstrictor drugs also have the same effect on the body.

At different periods of the patient’s life, the indicator may also change slightly, but usually it returns to normal on its own. This means that the patient needs to walk more fresh air, from time to time take a course of vitamins and give up bad habits.

Why is a high level of MSHC dangerous?

Many people do not understand the dangers of increasing this rate. Hemoglobin changes its structure and becomes dense, and its crystallization is possible. Crystallization leads to the breakdown of red blood cells, disrupts the composition of the blood and harms all systems of the patient's body.

What to do if the indicator is elevated in a child?

Until puberty begins, the rate is approximately the same for women and men. Each age has its own limits at which MSHC is considered a normal indicator.

For newborns, up to 2 weeks old, doctors consider the normal level to be between 28 and 35 g/l. For infants under 30 days of age: from 28 to 36 g/l; at the age of 1 to 2 months: 28–35 g/l; at the age of 2 to 4 months: this is the limit varying from 29 to 37 g/l.

The norm at the age of 4 months to a year is considered to be from 32 to 37 g/l; and for patients from 1 to 3 years old, normal values ​​will be 32–37 g/l; at the age of 3 to 12 years, the MCHC should not exceed 32–37 g/l.

Between the ages of 12 and 16, the levels of performance between girls and boys begin to differ. For boys, a figure from 32 to 37 g/l is considered normal, and for girls from 32 to 38 g/l.

In fact, in young patients, the MSHC norm is strikingly different from adults only up to the age of 12 months.

What to do if an increase is detected?

It is necessary to contact a pediatrician. If there is any doubt about the decoding, the doctor sends the child for repeated tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out incorrect blood sampling or negligence of hospital staff.

If the analysis confirms the indicators a second time, then the child is sent for an examination, the task of which is to confirm or refute the presence of spherocytosis.

What kind of disease is this?

With this disease, abnormal development of red blood cell membranes begins, red blood cells become spherical, and red blood cells have a slight roundness. Erythrocytes and red blood cells are quickly destroyed due to their irregular shape. The pathology is a congenital disease and can manifest itself after previous infections. The disease behaves differently: occurring with severe symptoms or practically asymptomatic.

Clinical picture of the pathology:

• Paleness of the skin.
• The patient begins to experience shortness of breath.
• He gets tired often.
• A person gets easily irritated and nervous.
• Jaundice and anemia are possible.

The disease is detected when comprehensive examination spleen, liver, red blood cell fragility tests, blood tests are performed.

Treatment includes taking folic acid 1 mg per day; in severe cases, blood transfusion is necessary (especially with anemia).

If necessary, the doctor suggests that the child’s parents undergo surgery to remove the spleen. This measure helps cure the baby from a serious illness. The shape of blood cells with pathology will remain unchanged, but at least their destruction will stop.

A month before the operation, the child receives a course of vaccinations (pneumococcal, meningococcal, hemophilic). But prophylaxis with penicillin is mandatory for the rest of your life. This measure will protect the child from serious complications after an infection enters the body. The operation is not performed on children under 5 years of age because serious infections may occur.

The medical terms that the automatic hematoanalyzer produces on test forms resemble ancient cuneiform writing to the uninitiated. And since we are not talking about antiquities, we would like to understand what a name like MCHC means in a blood test, and how this abbreviated designation is related to health.

Red blood cell indices

Gone are the days when blood tests were limited to counting blood cells or erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

Diagnostic medical technology has learned to determine 24 different parameters of red blood cells. The use of modern hematological analyzers to assess the state of blood has made it possible to:

• significantly expand the amount of information about the state of the blood;
• reduce the number of erroneous results;
• standardize blood sampling.

And since the most important blood cells are erythrocytes, the properties of these blood cells are described by a number of terms, which are also called erythrocyte indices.

The most important erythrocyte indices in blood tests are MCHC, MCH, MCV, HB. Let's look at the MCHC and MCH indicators in more detail.

Basic erythrocyte indices

The most informative indicator of a general blood test (CBC) is still the designation RBC, which in the analyzer printout means “the number of red blood cells.”

An indicator such as HgB or HB, meaning the level of hemoglobin in the blood, must also be indicated.

These words have long become known to every schoolchild, and have become not just medical terms, but part of the ordinary speech of a person uninitiated in medicine.

But the abbreviations MCHC, MCH are not widely used outside the hospital walls, they are highly specific terms, and require decoding to understand what is being said in the blood test.

The parameters MCHC and MCH characterize how much hemoglobin is contained in red blood cells and how densely it is filled with red iron-containing pigment.

MCH norm in analysis

The abbreviation MCH in a blood test is a value that shows how much hemoglobin a red blood cell contains on average, which is calculated automatically by the analyzer, and normally this calculation is within the range of 27 - 34 pg.

By manual counting, the total HB in the blood was determined, then this value was divided by what was obtained by counting red blood cells, and this value served as the final result of the MCH analysis.

Automatic blood analyzers do this without human intervention, and to perform all calculations they only need a blood sample with a volume of 12 - 150 μl.

Normally, the MCH blood value in women and men does not change throughout life and, when deciphering the analysis, it is compared with normal values ​​of 27 - 34 pg.

IN childhood the indicator of the amount of hemoglobin in a red blood cell is a variable value, and it changes especially strongly in children under one year of age.

For more details on exactly how MCH changes and in what range of values ​​its changes occur, read the article specifically devoted to the issue of hemoglobin concentration in the erythrocyte.

The article provides a detailed table of normal MCH values ​​in childhood, literally by day and week.

MCHC standard

The MCHC parameter shows the concentration of hemoglobin contained in a red blood cell and serves as an indicator of hemoglobin synthesis in the blood.

Of course, this indicator is an average value. Even the most advanced hematology analyzer cannot measure the hemoglobin concentration in each individual red blood cell and determine whether it is high or low.

To calculate the hemoglobin concentration in a red blood cell, the total hemoglobin is divided by the hematocrit - the volume of all red blood cells in a blood sample.

The MCHC value reflects the degree of saturation of the red blood cell with hemoglobin and shows how full the volume of the red blood cell is. The normal MCHC range is 33 – 38 g/dL.

MCHC indicators in a blood test for both women and men are usually either normal or reduced, and if the hemoglobin density in the reading is increased, then most likely there is a laboratory error.

The site has a detailed article about the meaning of the MCHC parameter in a blood test, indicating the norm in children and adults.

What are the differences between MCHC and MCH

The main function of the red blood cell is to deliver oxygen to the cells of the body, and hemoglobin molecules serve as oxygen carriers.

You can imagine an erythrocyte in the form of an empty train carriage, in which passenger seats are placed - hemoglobin molecules.

To simplify, let only one passenger - an oxygen molecule - sit in each seat, and all cars will have a standard size.

In this case, the more seats in the car, the more efficient the transportation of passengers, and in relation to red blood cells, the transfer of oxygen.

Then the number of seats in the car is the hemoglobin content, i.e. the MCH value. And the MCHC value is the percentage of hemoglobin (seats in the car) to the entire volume of the red blood cell (car).

If an erythrocyte is densely filled with hemoglobin throughout its entire volume, then it copes with the task perfectly and effectively transports oxygen. When the carriage is half empty, it will carry few passengers.

Thus, MCHC is an indicator of the concentration of hemoglobin in an erythrocyte, and MCH is the mass of hemoglobin in an erythrocyte. MCHC is measured in g/ml, and MCH in pg, where 1 pg = 1 g -12.

Of course, in reality this example is too simplified, since red blood cells differ in size.

With an increase in the volume of red blood cells with the same hemoglobin content (MCH), the concentrations of this pigment in red blood cells (MCHC) will be different. And, although hemoglobin will be quantitatively increased in the cell, due to the increase in the volume of the erythrocyte, a decrease in the concentration of HB will be observed in the analysis.

Preparing for analysis

A blood test to determine erythrocyte indices must be taken on an empty stomach. Before conducting the study, it is recommended:

• eliminate alcohol consumption;
• do not smoke or limit smoking;
• do not drink strong coffee, tea;
• reduce the amount of fried, fatty foods in your diet.

Doctors do not advise exposing the body to physical overload, overheating or hypothermia before taking a blood test.

If on the eve of a blood test it is planned to undergo an x-ray, massage or physiotherapeutic procedure, then it is better to postpone the blood test for 3 days.

When going to the laboratory to conduct research, do not rush or worry. It is best to climb the stairs by walking, or even better - use the elevator.

In front of the office, it is advisable to sit quietly on the couch for 10 minutes, calm down, and only then go into the treatment room.

MCHC abnormalities

The MCHC value is one of the most stable characteristics of red blood cells. This index deviates from the norm in case of serious blood disorders.

A study such as determining MCHC must be performed during a routine examination, as this allows for timely detection of anemia. An analysis with calculation of MCHC is prescribed when diagnosing conditions associated with:

• with causeless weakness, decreased performance;
• progressive inflammation of an infectious or non-infectious nature;
• with significant blood loss.

If the preparation for the test was done correctly, and no errors were made in the laboratory, then the MCHC indicator will either be within the normal range or decrease.

Increasing the MCHC index

An elevated MCHC blood test reading may most likely be due to a laboratory error, or a disease such as spherocytosis can cause this phenomenon.

The disease spherocytosis is hereditary and is caused by a violation of the elasticity of the cell membranes of red blood cells. The pathology is congenital, and if none of the family members have been diagnosed with the disease, then it will not appear in adulthood.

The result of the study may be higher than normal if the person lived high above sea level. In such situations, the body compensates for the lack of oxygen in the rarefied mountain air by increasing the synthesis of hemoglobin.

If the MCHC is elevated in a blood test, this does not mean that a disease is developing in the body; most likely, the reason for the deviation from the MCHC norm is an error in calculating hemoglobin and hematocrit in the laboratory.

An increase in this erythrocyte index means saturation of the erythrocyte with hemoglobin. And if it exceeds the norm, it can reach such a level that crystallization begins in the red blood cell.

As a result of crystallization, the cell is damaged and undergoes a process of hemolysis - destruction.

If the indicators of this parameter are high, the analysis must be retaken. If the result of a repeated study exceeds the norm, then the patient is offered further examination to exclude hyperchromic anemia, erythremia, or a deep disturbance of water-salt balance.

Downgrade of MCHC

The reason for the decrease in MCHC is Iron-deficiency anemia, lead poisoning, autoimmune disorders.

Reduced MCHC results in the blood occur due to the formation of B9-deficiency or B12-deficiency anemia, especially in cases where giant red blood cells are detected.

In women, the MSHC parameter may be reduced if the study was carried out during menstruation, especially with severe blood loss.

Deviations of MCH from the norm

Analyzing the results of a study of the hemoglobin content in a red blood cell, the doctor can conclude:

• about the peculiarities of iron absorption;
• the body's ability to synthesize hemoglobin;
• about the presence of anemia in the patient or confirm its absence.

The MCH test rate is increased in case of anemia, which is caused by a deficiency of vitamins B9 or B12 in the blood, liver disease or alcoholism. An increase in this erythrocyte parameter is observed in hypothyroidism.

MCH, like MCHC, decreases in the case of iron deficiency anemia. Like any type of anemia, iron deficiency anemia is most often a sign of developing inflammation, or a lack of nutrition.

Lack of iron, folic acid or B12 in the diet over a long period of time leads to the development of anemia in women during pregnancy. In this regard, already at the pregnancy planning stage, the doctor pays attention to the MCHC and MCH indicators.

A decrease in MCH is observed in chronic infectious diseases causing disruption of iron absorption in the intestine.

Iron is an essential part of the hemoglobin molecule, and a lack of this nutrient automatically leads to a lack of hemoglobin in the blood.

Deterioration in the absorption of iron from food is observed in many diseases of the digestive tract. The intake of iron into the body decreases in the following cases:

• ulcerative colitis;
• Crohn's disease;
• enterocolitis.

Low MCH may be caused by thalassemia or Cooley's anemia - hereditary disease, manifested in a violation of the structure of hemoglobin.

The MCH level in a blood test may be lowered due to a deficiency of vitamin B6 in the body or porphyria.

A decrease in the indicator is observed with anemia caused by development malignant tumors. Anemia develops in 33% of cancer patients who have not undergone chemotherapy, and in 90% of those who have been treated.

According to medical statistics, a connection is found between erythrocyte parameters and the prognosis of survival in cancer.

One of important indicators The general blood test is hemoglobin. The concentration of this substance in red blood cells is important diagnostic value in identifying diseases hematopoietic organs. The average value of hemoglobin content in one red blood cell is indicated by MCHC in a blood test: what this indicator is and how it is calculated is known to few.

What does MCHC mean in a blood test?

The abbreviation MCHC in blood test results refers to the average concentration of hemoglobin in a red blood cell. This substance in its structure is a protein compound that is present in human blood. Hemoglobin is able to combine with oxygen molecules and transport it to the tissues of the body. In addition to the concentration of hemoglobin in the bloodstream (Hb), indicators such as MCH and MCHC are also established. The first parameter reflects the concentration of hemoglobin protein in a single red blood cell. Essentially, it is the ratio of total hemoglobin to the number of red blood cells.

Doctors are often interested in such a parameter as MCHC in a blood test: most patients have no idea what this parameter is. MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) – the average volume of the so-called corpuscular, bound hemoglobin. It reflects the volume of iron component in red blood cells. This parameter is used to confirm the MCH result, since these two indicators are mutually dependent.

MCHC blood test - transcript

Having found out how MCHC stands for in a blood test, what kind of abbreviation it is, let’s pay attention to the peculiarities of interpreting the results. When identifying blood diseases, doctors always take into account erythrocyte indices - the norm of these parameters changes with the patient’s age and depends on gender. At birth in children, these indicators are less important. The increase in MCHC in the analysis occurs with age. Taking these features into account, only a doctor can carry out an objective assessment of the research results.

MCHC blood test - interpretation, normal in women

With the onset of puberty and the establishment menstrual cycle the MCHC concentration is set at the same level. Every month, healthy girls experience menstruation. During this physiological process, blood is released from the uterine cavity along with endometrial cells. If a woman experiences heavy and prolonged menstruation associated with hormonal fluctuations, this negatively affects the level of red blood cells and. How MHCH changes, the norm for women, can be found in the table below.

MCHC blood test - interpretation, normal in men

In men, blood renewal occurs more slowly and less frequently. This explains the consistently high hemoglobin levels. A decrease in this protein can be observed in various pathological conditions of the body. The normal value of erythrocyte indices, depending on the patient’s age, is indicated in the table.

MCHC blood test - interpretation, normal in children

In children, the concentration of hemoglobin increases with increasing age. Red bone marrow produces more red blood cells. The increase occurs gradually. As doctors' observations show, by the age of 15, MCHC values ​​reach those established for adults. More information about how the average volume of corpuscular hemoglobin changes with increasing age of children can be found in the following table.

MCHC blood test is low - what does this mean?

If MCHC in a blood test is low, doctors try to rule out a disease such as hypochromia. This pathology is accompanied by insufficient saturation of red blood cells with the protein hemoglobin. It can be triggered by conditions that are accompanied by impaired hemoglobin synthesis. When the MCHC general blood test is lowered, doctors pay attention to possible disorders in the body, such as:

• inflammatory processes;
• dehydration;
• anemia of any form;
• iron deficiency.

Insufficient intake of iron into the body leads to a failure in the synthesis of complete hemoglobin. As a result, iron deficiency anemia develops. The pathology is more common among women due to physiological characteristics their body. Among the possible deviations accompanied by a decrease in MCHC:

• hereditary blood diseases (thalassemia);
• flaw .

MCHC in blood test is low - reasons

Specialists who know everything about MCHC in blood tests: what this indicator is and how it changes, are not always immediately able to name the reason for the discrepancy with the norm. To determine exactly why the MCHC in the blood test is low, doctors conduct multiple examinations of patients. Only after collecting all the necessary information is the final diagnosis. According to the observations of specialists, the concentration of hemoglobin in the erythrocyte is reduced in the following pathologies of the body:

• anemia (hypochromic, iron deficiency, sideroblastic);
• violation of water-electrolyte metabolism;
• congenital anomalies.

How to increase MCHC in the blood?

In order for the hemoglobin concentration in the red blood cell to return to normal, doctors prescribe complex treatment. Due to the fact that in most cases the pathology is caused by insufficient intake of iron into the body, patients in this case are recommended to normalize the work and rest regime and correct the diet.

The daily menu should contain foods high in iron:

• grenades;
• apples;
• beef;
• liver.

Often for effective treatment and complete replenishment of iron deficiency, it is recommended to take vitamin-mineral complexes containing increased dosages of iron and B vitamins. When children with low hemoglobin are diagnosed at a young age, they can already be treated with early years prescribe iron supplements:

• Ferum Lek;
• Actiferrin.

For the treatment of adult patients, doctors prescribe:

• Ferroplex;
• Totema;
• Tardiferon.

MCHC blood test is elevated - what does this mean?

Situations where MCHC is elevated in a blood test occur less frequently, but they also require no less attention. In this case, the red blood cells contain a large number of hemoglobin, which disrupts normal work internal organs. To accurately determine the cause, many research methods are required. Patients are often unaware of this condition due to the lack of specific symptoms; nothing worries them.

MCHC in blood test is elevated - reasons

After a complete blood count is done and the MCHC is elevated, doctors re-use it to confirm the result. Only after this they begin to establish possible reason deviations from the norm. The hemoglobin concentration in red blood cells may be increased in the following cases:

1. Hyperchromic and megablastic anemia. With this type of disorder, there is increased synthesis of hemoglobin and the formation of large red blood cells. Blood supply to small parts is disrupted blood vessels, supplying blood to internal organs.
2. Liver diseases. Liver hypertrophy causes increased synthesis of protein compounds. This may be due to a tumor process in the liver.
3. Oncology. This pathological condition causes numerous abnormalities in the blood, causing disruption of the red bone marrow, lungs, and stomach. Patients suffering from leukemia always have elevated MCHC and MCH.
4. – a decrease in the function of the thyroid gland, which synthesizes thyroid hormone, disrupts the activity of the bone marrow, increases the increase in hemoglobin levels, which causes an increase in MCHC values.

How to lower MCHC in the blood?

When MCHC is elevated in the analysis, doctors prescribe therapeutic measures aimed at reducing hemoglobin concentration. For this:

1. An enhanced drinking regime is established, salty dishes and foods are introduced into the diet.
2. If the norm is significantly exceeded, the patient must exclude iron-rich foods from the diet. Red fruits and vegetables, liver, beef, and cereals are prohibited.