MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration)

The normal reference range for MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration) is MCHC is typically about 310-360 g/L. It describes how concentrated the haemoglobin is inside each red cell, complementing the MCV (cell size) when classifying anaemia.. Reference ranges may vary between laboratories, so always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation.

Provides information about the density of hemoglobin in red blood cells, helping classify types of anemia.

A genuinely high MCHC is unusual because there is a ceiling to how much haemoglobin a cell can hold. When seen, it points to hereditary spherocytosis (small, dense red cells) or autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. More often a high MCHC is a laboratory artefact caused by lipaemic (fatty) blood, cold agglutinins, or red cell clumping, and is flagged for the lab to recheck.

A low MCHC (hypochromia — pale, under-filled red cells) most commonly reflects iron deficiency, where there is not enough iron to fill cells with haemoglobin. It also occurs in thalassaemia and the anaemia of chronic disease. A low MCHC usually accompanies a low MCV in these conditions.

MCHC is calculated automatically as part of the red cell indices in every full blood count, so it is never ordered alone. An abnormal value is interpreted with MCV and a blood film, and iron studies are added when iron deficiency is suspected.