Blood health
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
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Compare membershipsHemoglobin density, adjusted for cell size.
MCHC is the average concentration of hemoglobin inside your red blood cells, adjusted for their size. It's calculated from your hemoglobin and hematocrit and adds detail when your other red cell results are outside the usual range.
Low and high MCHC mean very different things.
A low MCHC means red cells hold less hemoglobin for their size, so they look paler under a microscope. Iron deficiency is a common reason.
A truly high MCHC is uncommon. More often it reflects something about the sample, such as fatty blood after a meal, red cells that broke apart in the tube, or cells clumping together. Rarely, it points to an inherited condition called hereditary spherocytosis, in which red cells are rounder and denser than usual.
Questions
Should I worry about a slightly high MCHC?
It's worth checking before assuming anything. Because sample issues are a common cause, a clinician may look closely at your other red cell results or suggest a repeat test. If it stays high, they can decide whether further testing makes sense.
How is MCHC different from MCH?
MCH is the amount of hemoglobin in an average red cell. MCHC takes the cell's size into account, so it shows how tightly packed that hemoglobin is. Both are read with MCV and your hemoglobin result.