Would you like to know the MCHC value in your blood report? (MCHC Blood Test)

Have you ever picked up a blood report, looked at the letters and numbers on it, and thought, 'What is this?' Among things like FBC , CBC , Hb, and RBC, you will also see a value called MCHC. This may be a bit of a foreign word to many people. So today, let's talk very simply, as if we were talking to a friend, about what this MCHC means and what it says about our health.

What is MCHC simply?

MCHC stands for 'Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration'. Okay, the name may sound a bit complicated, but the way it works is very simple.

A complete blood count (CBC) is a test that doctors often look at when you have a blood test . We usually call this an FBC (Full Blood Count) or CBC ( Complete Blood Count ). This can provide information about many things in our blood, such as red blood cells , white blood cells , and platelets .

MCHC is just one measurement in that CBC/FBC report.

Simply put, MCHC measures the concentration of a protein called hemoglobin in your red blood cells .

So, the MCHC value allows the doctor to get a good idea of ​​the oxygen-carrying capacity and iron levels of our red blood cells.

Are MCHC and MCH two different things?

Yes, you may have seen a value called MCH in your blood report. MCH and MCHC are not the same thing, but they are both measurements that provide information about red blood cells.

• MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin): This refers to the average amount (weight) of hemoglobin in a single red blood cell .
• MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration): This refers to the concentration of hemoglobin in a specific volume of red blood cells.That is, how 'tightly' packed the hemoglobin is compared to the size of the red blood cell.

Imagine that your red blood cells are a bus. Hemoglobin is the passengers on that bus.

• MCH is like the average weight of passengers on a single bus.
• MCHC is a measure of how crowded the passengers are, that is, how close they are to each other, compared to the space on the bus.

In what situations is an MCHC test important?

Usually, even during an annual blood test, attention is paid to the MCHC value. However, especially if there is suspicion of certain medical conditions, the doctor is more concerned about this value.

Anemia

This is the main reason. Anemia is the lack of enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin. This can make you feel tired, weak, and have difficulty breathing when exercising. There are many causes of anemia.

• Iron deficiency: This is the most common cause. When the body does not have enough iron, it cannot make hemoglobin. At this time, the MCHC value may decrease.
• Hereditary Spherocytosis: This is a hereditary condition. In this condition, red blood cells break down quickly, changing their shape and becoming spherical. Although the cells are smaller, the amount of hemoglobin inside them remains the same, increasing the concentration and increasing the MCHC value.
• Thalassemia: This is also a hereditary disease. In this condition, the body produces less hemoglobin than normal. Therefore, the MCHC value may be low.

Other reasons

• Celiac Disease or IBD: These diseases cause intestinal infections that impair iron absorption, which can also cause a decrease in MCHC.
• Lead Poisoning: Lead in the body interferes with the process of hemoglobin production.
• Sickle Cell Disease: In this disease, the MCHC value may increase or decrease.
• Chronic diseases: Long-term diseases such as kidney disease and rheumatoid arthritis can also cause anemia and change the MCHC value.

How do you understand your MCHC value?

These values ​​are given after your blood sample is analyzed by an automated machine in the lab. Typically, MCHC values ​​fall within this range.

Some frequently asked questions

Should I be very worried if the MCHC value decreases?

In most cases, the main reason for a low MCHC value is iron deficiency. This is not a serious problem. This condition can be easily controlled with proper treatment, iron tablets, and a nutritious diet. However, to know the exact cause, you should definitely see a doctor .

Can cancer cause a decrease in MCHC?

MCHC levels can be low in some cancers, such as leukemia, which affects the bone marrow and reduces red blood cell production. However, not everyone with a low MCHC level has cancer.

Does dehydration affect MCHC?

Yes. If your body loses a lot of water, that is, if you become dehydrated, the amount of plasma in your blood can decrease and the concentration of red blood cells can appear to increase. This can cause the MCHC value to appear artificially high.

MCHC, Blood Test, Anemia, Hemoglobin, Red Blood Cells, CBC, FBC