Marker Name: MCHC
REFERENCE RANGES FOR MCHC:
Laboratory reference range: 31.5–35.7 g/dL
Functional reference range: 32–35 g/dL
DESCRIPTION:
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is the average concentration of hemoglobin in a sample of red blood cells.1 MCHC supplies a ratio of hemoglobin mass to red cell volume. MCHC provides some information about hemoglobin, the main transport molecule for oxygen in the blood.
MCHC is not particularly useful for modern clinical diagnosis; however, it is important for clinical laboratory quality control, since it is quite stable.1 Like mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), MCHC is calculated rather than measured directly. MCHC is calculated from hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit.2
MCHC can be erroneously elevated or decreased in situations where hemoglobin, hematocrit, or both are distorted within a sample. For instance, laboratory analysis of plasma samples subject to autoagglutination may underestimate hematocrit while overestimating hemoglobin. This distorts MCHC accordingly.
A high MCHC signifies hyperchromic anemia.3 A high MCHC not due to a spurious laboratory result may indicate autoimmune hemolytic anemia or a hemoglobin abnormality, such as homozygous hemoglobin C disease or sickle cell disease. MCHC may be elevated in people who have sustained significant burns. Blood samples from patients with hereditary spherocytosis, a rare genetic condition, will return with a consistently elevated MCHC.
A low MCHC is consistent with hypochromic anemia. It may be present in iron-deficiency anemia or thalassemia.2
MCHC is always measured as part of a complete blood count (CBC).4 MCHC is of little clinical significance, but it can be used to isolate spurious laboratory results.1
PATHOLOGICAL/CONVENTIONAL RANGE INDICATIONS: High in:4,5
- Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
- Thermal injury
- Sickle cell disease
- Homozygous hemoglobin C disease
- Xerocytosis
- Hereditary spherocytosis
Low in:4,5
- Iron-deficiency anemia
- Thalassemia
FUNCTIONAL RANGE INDICATIONS:
High in:
- Same as conventional indications
Low in:
- Same as conventional indications
References:
- http://books.mcgraw-hill.com/medical/hematology/part1.html
- http://www.uptodate.com/contents/structure-and-function-of-normal-hemoglobins
- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003648.htm
- http://www.uptodate.com/contents/approach-to-the-adult-patient-with-anemia
- http://www.uptodate.com/contents/automated-hematology-instrumentation