Menu

An expert resource for medical professionals
Provided FREE as a service to women’s health

The Alliance for
Global Women’s Medicine
A worldwide fellowship of health professionals working together to
promote, advocate for and enhance the Welfare of Women everywhere

Welfare of Women

The Global Library of Women’s Medicine
Clinical guidance and resources

A vast range of expert online resources. A FREE and entirely CHARITABLE site to support women’s healthcare professionals

The Global Academy of Women’s Medicine
Teaching, research and Diplomates Association

Menu

Laboratory Tests

This section provides detailed information on a wide range of laboratory tests relevant to women's medicine

A rapid reference

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)

The MCH is a measure of the amount (weight) of hemoglobin in a red blood cell.

This measurement is clinically significant in the presence of anemia as it allows for categorizing the type of anemia.

  • Elevated MCH is associated with macrocytic anemia
  • Diminished MCH is associated with microcytic anemia
  • Hyperlipidemia may give a false elevation of the MCH
  • MCH is most useful in severely anemic patients. Among those with lesser degrees of anemia, it is less useful because the measurement has a potential for a relatively wide range of error.

Normal Values*

MCH 26-34 pg/cell

*These are general values taken from a variety of sources. The actual normal values may vary from lab to lab and from one type of testing protocol to another.
Source: Operational Medicine 2001,  Health Care in Military Settings, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20372-5300