The mean corpuscular hemoglobin, or "mean cell hemoglobin" (MCH), is the average mass of hemoglobin

Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is the iron-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein in the red blood cells of all vertebrates, with the exception of the fish family Channichthyidae, as well as the tissues of some invertebrates...

 per red blood cell

Red blood cell

Red blood cells are the most common type of blood cell and the vertebrate organism's principal means of delivering oxygen to the body tissues via the blood flow through the circulatory system...

 in a sample of blood. It is reported as part of a standard complete blood count

Complete blood count

A complete blood count , also known as full blood count or full blood exam or blood panel, is a test panel requested by a doctor or other medical professional that gives information about the cells in a patient's blood...

. MCH value is diminished in hypochromic anemia

Hypochromic anemia

Hypochromic anemia is a generic term for any type of anemia in which the red blood cells are paler than normal. A normal red blood cell will have an area of pallor in the center of it; in hypochromic cells, this area of central pallor is increased...

s.

It is calculated by dividing the total mass of hemoglobin by the number of red blood cells in a volume of blood.

MCH=(Hgb*10)/RBC

A normal value in humans is 27 to 31 picograms/cell. Conversion to SI-units: 1 pg of hemoglobin = 0.06207 femtomol. Normal value converted to SI-units: 1.68 - 1.92 fmol/cell.

External links

• FP Notebook
• Cornell
• Medline

See also

• Red blood cell indices
  Red blood cell indices
  Red blood cell indices are blood tests that provide information about the hemoglobin content and size of red blood cells. Abnormal values indicate the presence of anemia and which type of anemia it is.- Mean corpuscular volume :...
  
  
  • Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
    Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
    The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, or MCHC, is a measure of the concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of packed red blood cells. It is reported as part of a standard complete blood count....
    
    
  • Mean corpuscular volume
    Mean corpuscular volume
    The mean corpuscular volume, or "mean cell volume" , is a measure of the average red blood cell size that is reported as part of a standard complete blood count....