The mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) test is indeed a blood test that surely measures the average amount of indeed hemoglobin in your red blood cells. A protein called hemoglobin is responsible for distributing oxygen throughout the body from the lungs. Additionally, it gives your blood its red hue.
Why Is MCH Test Important?
MCH test is important because it can help diagnose different types of anaemia, a condition where your body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Anaemia can cause symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, and pale skin. MCH tests can also help monitor the effectiveness of treatments for anaemia, such as iron supplements or blood transfusions. MCH test is usually part of also a complete blood count (CBC), a routine blood test that checks the number and quality of different blood cells.
How Is The MCH Test Done?
MCH test is done as part of a complete blood count (CBC), a routine blood test that checks the number and quality of your blood cells. A healthcare provider will take a small blood sample from your arm or finger to do a CBC. The sample will indeed be sent to a laboratory, where a machine will analyze the different components of your blood, including MCH.
What Does MCH Test Results Mean?
MCH test results are expressed in picograms (pg), one-trillionth of a gram. The typical range for MCH is 27 to 33 pg. Nevertheless, this range could change slightly based on the lab and the technique. You should always consult your healthcare provider to interpret your MCH test results.
MCH test results can indicate whether you have normocytic, microcytic, or macrocytic anaemia. Normocytic anaemia means that your red blood cells are normal in size but low in number. Microcytic anaemia means that your red blood cells are smaller than normal and have low hemoglobin levels. Macrocytic anaemia means that your red blood cells are larger than normal and have high hemoglobin levels.
Some of the possible causes of low MCH include:
- Iron deficiency anaemia, which occurs when your body does
not have enough iron to make hemoglobin.
- Hemoglobin production is impacted by the hereditary condition thalassemia.
- Sideroblastic anemia is a rare condition where your bone
marrow also produces abnormal red blood cells that contain excess iron.
- Chronic disease anemia occurs when a long-term illness or infection interferes with the production of red blood cells.
Some of the possible causes of high MCH include:
- Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia occurs when your body does not
have enough vitamin B12 to make healthy red blood cells.
- Folate deficiency anemia, occurs when your body does not
have enough folate, a type of vitamin B, to make healthy red blood cells.
- Liver disease can affect the metabolism of hemoglobin and
cause the excess breakdown of red blood cells.
- Alcoholism can indeed interfere with the absorption of vitamins and minerals and damage the bone marrow.
Conclusion
An MCH test can help diagnose different types of anaemia and monitor your response to treatment. It is usually part of a complete blood count (CBC) test that measures other aspects of your blood cells. If you have abnormal MCH results, your doctor may surely order more tests to determine the cause and the best treatment for your condition.
