---
title: "CBC Biomarkers: Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)"
description: Complete Blood Count | What is MCHC | Hemoglobin | Cardiovascular Disease | Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis
---

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# [CBC Biomarkers: Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)](https://www.optimaldx.com/research-blog/cbc-biomarkers-mean-corpuscular-hemoglobin-concentration)

 Written by [ODX Research](https://www.optimaldx.com/research-blog/author/odx-research) | Apr 12, 2023 3:51:00 PM

### Optimal Takeaways

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration is a calculation of the average hemoglobin in a red blood cell. Low levels are associated with dysfunction, while high levels are often falsely elevated due to extraneous factors.

**Standard Range:** 32 - 36 g/dL

**The ODX Range:** 34 - 36 g/dL   

**Low** MCHC is associated with hypochromic cells, iron-deficiency anemia, and thalassemia (Pagana 2021). Low levels may also be associated with inflammation, cardiac risk, poorer post-MI outcomes (Huang 2016), and depressive symptoms, especially in women (Lee 2017).

**High** MCHC occurs with hemolysis, spherocytosis (altered RBC shape), and cold agglutination, though these may be falsely elevated values (Pagana 2021). A higher MCHC may also be seen with dehydration, especially intracellular dehydration, RBC disorders including sickle cell anemia, and certain medications including chemotherapy and immunosuppressive drugs (Berda 2017).

### Overview

The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) measures the average concentration of hemoglobin found in a red blood cell. The maximum amount of hemoglobin that can fit into a red blood cell is 37 grams per deciliter. When higher levels are detected, it is often due to hemolysis, cold agglutination, or an alteration in the shape of size of a red blood cell. A low MCHC is usually associated with insufficiency of hemoglobin and hypochromic anemias, including thalassemia and iron deficiency anemia (Pagana 2021).

A cross-sectional study in men aged 40-77 found that an MCHC below 32.1 g/dL was associated with a diagnosis of anemia (Khan 2013). Some researchers suggest that a low MCHC may reflect inflammation and may be a prognostic marker following acute myocardial infarction (Huang 2016). One large cohort study of 29,526 coronary angiography patients found that the lowest mortality was associated with an MCHC above 34.6 g/dL (Anderson 2007).

### References

Berda-Haddad, Y et al. “Increased mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration: artefact or pathological condition?.” International journal of laboratory hematology vol. 39,1 (2017): 32-41. doi:10.1111/ijlh.12565

Huang, Yuan-Lan, and Zhi-De Hu. “Lower mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration is associated with poorer outcomes in intensive care unit admitted patients with acute myocardial infarction.” Annals of translational medicine vol. 4,10 (2016): 190. doi:10.21037/atm.2016.03.42 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/27294086/>

Khan, Zahra, et al. "Hemoglobin, red blood cell count, hematocrit and derived parameters for diagnosing anemia in elderly males." Proceedings of the Pakistan Academy of sciences 50.3 (2013): 217-226. <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Umar_Bacha/publication/288540159_Hemoglobin_red_blood_cell_count_hematocrit_and_derived_parameters_for_diagnosing_anemia_in_elderly_males/links/586fa52608aebf17d3a99a11/Hemoglobin-red-blood-cell-count-hematocrit-and-derived-parameters-for-diagnosing-anemia-in-elderly-males.pdf>   

Lee, Ju-Mi et al. “Association between Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration and Future Depressive Symptoms in Women.” The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine vol. 241,3 (2017): 209-217. doi:10.1620/tjem.241.209

Pagana, Kathleen Deska, et al. Mosby's Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference. 15th ed., Mosby, 2021.

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