How Can I Read And Understand MCHC Blood Test Results Without Any Help?

Things you must consider before reading MCBC test results by yourself:

MCHC results are one piece of the puzzle: 

MCHC is just one of several red blood cell indices measured in a CBC.  Your doctor will consider your MCHC along with other results like hematocrit (percentage of red blood cells in your blood) and MCV (mean corpuscular volume, size of your red blood cells) to get a more comprehensive picture.

Normal ranges can vary:  

The typical MCHC range is 32-36 g/dL, but slight variations might exist depending on the lab.  Your doctor will have the most accurate reference range specific to the lab that processed your test.

MCHC results alone don't diagnose conditions: 

An abnormal MCHC can point towards anemia or other conditions, but it doesn't pinpoint the exact cause.  Your doctor will likely recommend further tests to determine the underlying reason.

Understanding the cause matters:  

Treatment will depend on the cause of your abnormal MCHC.  For example, iron deficiency anemia requires iron supplementation, 

Steps to help you read and understand MCHC blood test results:

Understand What MCHC Is: 

MCHC stands for Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration. It measures the average concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of red blood cells1.

Know the Normal Range: 

The normal range for MCHC is 32 to 36 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or 320 to 360 grams per liter (g/L).

Low MCHC (Hypochromia): 

A low MCHC measurement indicates that you have a lower concentration of hemoglobin in your red blood cells. This condition, known as hypochromia, reduces your blood’s capacity to carry oxygen to your organs and tissues.

High MCHC (Hyperchromia): 

A high MCHC measurement indicates that you have a higher concentration of hemoglobin in your red blood cells. This condition, known as hyperchromia, can increase your chances of developing various health complications such as blood clots2.

Understand the Causes:

Low MCHC: MCHC levelsMCHC levels below the normal range can be a sign of iron deficiency anemia. This condition develops when you don’t have enough iron in your body, which you need to make red blood cells.

High MCHC: 

A high MCHC level often implies that red blood cells are more concentrated with hemoglobin than usual, which can be caused by diseases such as spherocytosis or dehydration.

Consider Other Factors: 

Your MCHC value may be normal with many types of anemia (normochromic anemias), such as blood loss anemia, anemia due to kidney disease, mixed anemias, bone marrow failure, and hemolytic anemias.

Examples to understand MCHC test results

Patient example:

Hemoglobin (Hb): 13.5 g/dL (Normal range: 13.5 - 17.5 g/dL for men)

Hematocrit (Hct): 40% (Normal range: 38.8 - 50.0% for men)

MCHC: 33.8 g/dL (Normal range: 32 - 36 g/dL)

Interpretation:

In this example, John Doe’s MCHC is 33.8 g/dL, which falls within the normal range of 32 - 36 g/dL. This suggests that the average concentration of hemoglobin in his red blood cells is normal. Therefore, his red blood cells’ capacity to carry oxygen is likely normal as well.

An example to illustrate MCHC results and how a doctor might interpret them:

If You receive a CBC test report showing the following results:

MCHC: 30 g/dL (Note: This falls below the typical normal range of 32-36 g/dL)

Hematocrit: 38% (Slightly lower than the average range of 40-50% for women and 42-54% for men)

MCV: 78 fL (Slightly lower than the average range of 80-100 fL)

Interpretation by your doctor:

The low MCHC (30 g/dL) suggests hypochromic anemia, a type of anemia where red blood cells have less hemoglobin than usual.

The slightly low hematocrit and MCV also support the possibility of anemia.

However, to determine the exact cause of anemia, your doctor might recommend further tests such as:

Iron studies (serum iron, ferritin) to assess iron deficiency.

Vitamin B12 and folate levels to rule out deficiencies.

Follow-up:

Based on the additional test results, your doctor can  diagnose the specific type of anemia and recommend the appropriate treatment plan.  For instance:

If iron deficiency is confirmed, your doctor might prescribe iron supplements and advise on dietary changes to increase iron intake.

If a vitamin deficiency is identified, supplementation might be recommended.