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This might make more sense when we introduce a third index, the MCV, or the average size of a red cell. The volume of an average cell, or MCV, is given in (femto)liters per cell.

The amount of hemoglobin (Hb)per cell is the MCH, and is given in (pico)grams per cell. The ratio of this to the average cell size, or MCV, is the concentration of Hb per unit of volume of the cell, or MCHC, and is given in grams per deciliter.

The ratio, or MCHC, is an expression of how dark or pale the average cell is, something called chromicity. The more Hb packed into any volume, the rosier and ruddier the cell. Healthy colored cells are normochromic. Pale cells are hypochromic.

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Now just why we care about all of this is another story. But actually, the MCH is the least useful of the many numbers measured or calculated using a patient's red cells, the so called RBC indices. Actually, we care mostly about the total Hb, the MCV and the MCHC, much less about the hematocrit and MCH.

If you're interested, here are the numbers given about the red cells (RBCs) in a CBC (complete blood count). Just ignore it if you're already swamped by all of this and have had enough:

RED CELL INDICES - the first three are measured. The next three are calculated from the measurements, then explained in more detail below http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_blood_count

1. (Hb) Hemoglobin - The amount of Hb in the blood, in g/dl. (Low is called anemia.)

2. (HCT) Hematocrit - Fraction of whole blood volume that consists of red cells.

3. (RBC) Total red blood cells - Number of red cells given as an absolute number of cells/liter.

4. (MCH) Mean corpuscular hemoglobin - the average hemoglobin per red cell, in picograms.

5. (MCV) Mean corpuscular volume - the average volume of the red cells, measured in femtolitres. Anemia is classified as microcytic or macrocytic based on whether this value is above or below the expected normal range

6. (MCHC) Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration - the average concentration of Hb/cell.

-------MORE ON THE CALCULATED INDICES:

4. MCH (Hgb/RBC ) The mean corpuscular hemoglobin is a measure of the mass of hemoglobin contained by a red blood cell. It is diminished in microcytic anemias, and increased in macrocytic anemias. It is calculated by dividing the total mass of hemoglobin by the RBC count. A normal value in humans is 26.3 to 33.8 PICOGRAMS/cell

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mean_corpuscular_hemo...

5.MCV (HCT/RBC) The mean corpuscular volume, or MCV, is a measure of the average red blood cell volume (i.e. size) that is reported as part of a standard complete blood count.

In patients with anemia, it is the MCV measurement that allows classification as either a MICROCYTIC anemia (MCV below normal range) or macrocytic anemia (MCV above normal range). It can be calculated (in litres) by dividing the hematocrit by the red blood cell count (number of red blood cells per litre). The result is typically reported in FEMTOLITRES/cell

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mean_corpuscular_volu...

6. MCHC (Hb/HCT) (MCH/MCV) The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, or MCHC, is a measure of the concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of packed red blood cell. It is diminished ("HYPOCHROMIC") in microcytic anemias, and normal ("normochromic") in macrocytic anemias (due to larger cell size, though the haemoglobin amount or MCH is high, the concentration remains normal). This count is used to give a rough guide to what shade of red, RBC will be. (paler=lower than the standard) A normal value is 32 to 36 g/dl.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mean_corpuscular_hemo...

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) measures the amount, or the mass, of hemoglobin present in one RBC. The weight of hemoglobin in an average cell is obtained by dividing the hemoglobin by the total RBC count. The result is reported by a very small weight called a picogram (pg).

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) measures the proportion of each cell taken up by hemoglobin. The results are reported in percentages, reflecting the proportion of hemoglobin in the RBC. The hemoglobin is divided by the hematocrit and multiplied by 100 to obtain the MCHC.

The MCH and the MCHC are used to assess whether red blood cells are normochromic, hypochromic, or hyperchromic. An MCHC of less than 32% or an MCH under 27 %. indicates that the red blood cells are deficient in hemoglobin concentration. This situation is most often seen with iron deficiency anemia.

Normal values for erythrocyte indices are:

MCH - 17-31 pg (picograms)

MCHC- 32-36%

Mchc Normal Range

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RE:

diffrence between MCH and MCHC?

so heres what i understand so far

MCH is the mean cell hemoglobin as in the wight of the hemoglobin per cell since its in pg (picogram) value , so they got the mean of it ,

MCHC is the mean cell hemoglobin concentration so whats that suppose to mean ,,its in g/dl unit , so am not sure whats the...

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration