MCHC Blood Test: Meaning, Normal Range, and What Results Mean

Decreased in conditions such as burns, cirrhosis, edema, and severe hepatic disease. In rare cases, complications such as infection or excessive bleeding at the puncture site may occur. If you notice redness, swelling, or persistent pain, contact your healthcare provider promptly. Chronic inflammation and abnormal lipid markers can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and systemic inflammation-related disorders. Your doctor’s office will then send the blood sample to a lab for testing. An MCHC is usually part of a complete blood count, which you might get routinely as part of a physical.

Tailored Care for Your Hemoglobin Health

Thanks to modern advancements in medical technology, hemoglobin blood tests are now quick, accurate, and widely available. Whether you’re managing a chronic condition or undergoing a routine health check, understanding your hemoglobin levels can empower you to take charge of your well-being. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and MCHC are different measurements, though they’re both part of a CBC and help give your doctor insight into your red blood cells. MCHC is one of several calculations, or indices, in the CBC that help doctors understand the size, shape, and health of your red blood cells (RBCs). More problematic are the inherent variables as a result of sex, age, occupation, body build, genetic background and adaptation to diet and to environment (especially altitude). These factors must be recognized when establishing physiologically normal values.

Specific to lab testing, it’s important to understand how lab reference ranges (or reference intervals) are established. Understanding how reference ranges get established, and their limitations, can help with how we interpret results. The reason a test is performed sometimes guides which reference range is used to interpret results and guide treatment decisions.

• But some numbers, like lymphocytes and MCV, along with other tests, can help your provider get a better picture of how well your kidneys are working.
• Glucose is a monosaccharide found in fruits and is formed from the digestion of carbohydrates and the conversion of glycogen by the liver.
• It’s important to inform your provider about any medications or supplements you are taking, as substances like iron supplements can affect the results.
• This test doesn’t predict heart disease in most patients, as the formula used to arrive at that number is not indicative of the disease.
• There is no time to discuss the reference ranges for LH, FSH, Estradiol, and Estrone; these topics will be addressed in a future blog.

When your hemoglobin test results are ready, your healthcare provider will explain what they mean and how they relate to your overall health. Hemoglobin levels are measured in grams per deciliter (g/dL) of blood, and normal ranges can vary based on factors such as age, gender, and health status. A mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) blood test measures the amount of a protein called hemoglobin in your red blood cells. It’s one of many measurements included in a complete blood count (CBC) test. This information about iron level ranges is provided for educational purposes only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for professional medical advice. Reference ranges may vary between different laboratories, testing methods, and populations.

• To help you interpret ABG results, check out our 8-Step Guide to ABG Analysis Tic-Tac-Toe Method.
• Midstream “clean-catch” urine collection is the most common method of obtaining urine specimens from adults, particularly men.
• The log SD is calculated by the formula on p. 625 and the results are then converted to their antilogs to express the data in the arithmetic scale.
• The central 95% of results is used (i.e., 2.5% to 97.5%) with an appropriate statistical technique, either parametric or nonparametric, to determine the reference range (2).

Check Hemoglobin Levels

Despite our best efforts to maintain accuracy, there may be unintentional errors or omissions. Always verify specific guidelines and related information with your healthcare provider. Haematological values for the normal and abnormal will overlap and a value within the recognized normal range may be definitely pathological in a particular subject.

Discuss that this is done to detect the presence or absence of infecting organisms and, therefore, must be free from contaminating matter that may be present on the external genital areas. Calcium (Ca+) is a cation absorbed into the bloodstream from dietary sources and functions in bone formation, nerve impulse transmission, and contraction of myocardial and skeletal muscles. Calcium aids in blood clotting by converting prothrombin to thrombin. Sodium is a major cation of extracellular fluid that maintains osmotic pressure and acid-base balance, and assists in the transmission of nerve impulses. Sodium is absorbed from the small intestine and excreted in the urine in amounts dependent on dietary intake. D-Dimer is a blood test that measures clot formation and lysis that results from the degradation of fibrin.

Serum Protein

MCH “does not take into account red cell volume, whereas MCHC does,” said Jahnavi Gollamudi, MD, an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. This final calculation tells you what percentage of your iron-carrying capacity is currently being used. It’s calculated by dividing serum iron by TIBC and multiplying by 100. Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) measures your blood’s capacity to transport iron. reference ranges for blood tests Iron doesn’t travel alone in your bloodstream – it needs a carrier protein called transferrin.

Treatment typically involves iron supplementation and dietary adjustments to include iron-rich foods. Decision limits are values that represent either the upper or lower quantity of an analyte that are consistent with a disease state or indicate a need for treatment. Knowing the different normal lab values is an important step in making an informed clinical decision as a nurse. Diagnostic and laboratory tests are tools that provide invaluable insights and information about the patient.

Bleeding time assess the overall hemostatic function (platelet response to injury and vasoconstrictive ability). Platelets are produced in the bone marrow and play a role in hemostasis. Platelets function in hemostatic plug formation, clot retraction, and coagulation factor activation. A blood culture is being done to determine which specific organism or bacteria is causing the problem and how best to combat it.

What is a complete blood count (CBC)?

For example, low hemoglobin levels may suggest anemia, but additional evaluations are needed to identify whether the cause is iron deficiency, chronic disease, or another factor. Hemoglobin levels reflect the concentration of hemoglobin in your blood. This iron-rich protein not only gives red blood cells their distinctive color but also enables them to carry oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body.

If you have a history of fainting or difficulty with blood draws, let your provider know in advance so they can take extra steps to ensure your comfort and safety. Symptoms of low hemoglobin can include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, and pale skin. Depending on the underlying cause, your provider may recommend dietary changes, supplements, or additional tests to address the issue.

Download Free Normal Lab Values Cheat Sheet

Generally, the patient will be given one or more containers to collect and store urine over a 24-hour time period. Serum osmolality is a measure of the solute concentration of the blood. Serum osmolality is usually estimated by doubling the serum sodium because sodium is a major determinant of serum osmolality. In this section, we’ll discuss the indications and nursing implications of each lab test. The patient will be asked what kind of medications he is taking, including prescriptions and nutritional supplements.

However, your health care provider may want to conduct follow-up tests some months later to make sure you’re still on track and to document any trends. A rise or drop in the level of a critical analyte, even if it is still within normal limits, could mean something significant. To determine ranges, labs may conduct their own studies for the tests they perform, they may adopt reference ranges from test manufacturers or other labs, or they may derive reference ranges from existing patient data. Very few tests will have reference ranges that are exactly the same for most laboratories. That’s why very few of the test articles on this site include reference ranges.

The iron in animal foods (heme iron) is absorbed 2-3 times more efficiently than the iron in plant foods (non-heme iron). This is why vegetarians and vegans need to consume about 1.8 times more iron than meat-eaters. Monthly menstruation depletes iron, which must be replaced through diet or supplements. Heavy periods can cause significant iron loss that’s difficult to replace through diet alone. Children need iron for brain development and to support their rapid growth. Infants typically have adequate iron stores for their first 4-6 months of life, after which dietary sources become crucial.

For most healthy adults without symptoms, routine screening isn’t necessary, though women with heavy periods may benefit from occasional testing. Teenage girls face a double challenge once menstruation begins – they’re still growing AND losing iron monthly. This is why teen girls are at particularly high risk for iron deficiency. Your results need to be considered in the context of your whole clinical history including any other investigations you have had. When there is a log normal (skew) distribution of measurements, the range to –2SD may even extend to zero (Fig. 2.2A).

This is the most common type of anemia, often caused by inadequate dietary iron, blood loss, or issues with iron absorption. An MCHC blood test between grams per deciliter (g/dL) is considered normal. Results below or above this range could be abnormal, but don’t necessarily indicate there’s a problem. Your doctor can explain your CBC results if you’re concerned about the findings. For example, with an inherited type of anemia called hereditary spherocytosis, RBCs break down too quickly and lose their membranes.