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What Does MCHC Level Mean?

Reviewed on 7/25/2022
Red blood cells under a microscope
MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) refers to the average amount of hemoglobin in a single red blood cell (RBC).

MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) measures the average amount of hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body, in a single red blood cell (RBC) relative to the size of the cell itself. 

Hemoglobin is carried by red blood cells and delivers oxygen to organs and tissues throughout the body and carries carbon dioxide back to the lungs to be exhaled.

An MCHC result is compared to other RBC indices and measurements on a complete blood count (CBC) test to help diagnose anemia and determine the underlying cause. MCHC is not usually interpreted separately from other blood values and must be compared with RBC indices collectively. 

MCHC is reported as grams per deciliter (g/dL). The American Board of Internal Medicine defines a normal MCHC reference range as 33-36 g/dL.

MCHC results are categorized as follows:

  • Lower than MCHC reference range
  • Within MCHC reference range 
  • Higher than MCHC reference range 
    • Hyperchromic anemia
    • May be caused by spherocytosis, a rare hereditary condition in which the body makes abnormally shaped red blood cells or RBC agglutination, which is when red blood cells abnormally clump together

What Is the Purpose of the MCHC Test?

The MCHC test is one of several tests called red blood cell indices that help define different characteristics of red blood cells. The MCHC test along with other red blood cell indices are used to check for signs of anemia and other blood disorders.

A CBC is a panel of blood tests that includes RBC indices and is part of a routine health examination used to diagnose and monitor a variety of diseases and conditions. 

The red blood cell (RBC) indices include:

  • Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)
    • Average amount of hemoglobin in a red blood cell
  • Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
    • Average size of red blood cells
  • Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
    • Average amount of hemoglobin in a single red blood cell relative to the size of the cell itself
  • Red blood cell distribution width (RDW)
    • Measurement of the range of sizes of red blood cells

When Is an MCHC Test Needed?

MCHC and other red blood cell indices may be indicated when a person has signs or symptoms of anemia, a blood disorder in which the body does not produce enough healthy red blood cells which limits the amount of oxygen delivered to organs and tissue.

What Are Symptoms of Anemia?

Symptoms of mild anemia may include:

  • Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
  • Weakness
  • Feeling tired more often than usual
  • Headaches
  • Problems with thinking or concentration
  • Agitation or irritability
  • Loss of appetite

Signs of anemia that has progressed may include:

  • Shortness of breath with mild activity or at rest
  • Pale skin 
  • Sore or unusually red tongue
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Abnormal or increased menstrual bleeding
  • Urge to eat ice or other non-food items such as dirt
  • Nails that break, chip, or split easily
  • Blue color to the whites of the eyes

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Reviewed on 7/25/2022
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