Source-checked
Haematology
Mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH)
Source-checked · Content last updated · 1 min read ·
This is the date the draft was written, not a medical review date.
MCH is the average mass of haemoglobin per red cell (haemoglobin divided by red-cell count). It usually parallels MCV.
Reference interval
| Conventional (pg) | SI (pg) | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | 27–33 pg | 27–33 pg |
Specimen: Whole blood (EDTA) · Conventional × 1 = SI
Causes of high values
Macrocytic states (B12 or folate deficiency, liver disease, alcohol); spuriously high with lipaemia or marked haemolysis in the sample.
Causes of low values
Hypochromic anaemias: iron deficiency, thalassaemia, sideroblastic anaemia and some chronic disease anaemias.
Pre-analytical and method notes
Reference intervals differ by laboratory and age. MCH is derived from other indices, so it inherits their analytical errors; it is less often used alone than MCHC or MCV.
References
- Rifai N, Horvath AR, Wittwer CT. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. Elsevier, 6th edition (2018) — Tier 3 (textbook)
- McPherson RA, Pincus MR. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. Elsevier — Tier 3 (textbook)
References are listed only where the article cites them. See the sources page for the full policy. How sources are chosen and credited