Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
(MCHC)

Sample type

Blood sample (EDTA Blood)

Uses

MCHC checks the average amount of hemoglobin in a group of red blood cells :-

• This is part of CBC (Complete blood count).

• This helps to diagnose the type of anemia.

• Mostly advised to diagnose macrocytic anemia.

Precautions

• It is done on blood in EDTA (anticoagulant).

• Whole blood stable 6 hours at 25 °C and 24 hours at 4 °C.

• Fetal blood collected by percutaneous umbilical blood.

Interfering factors

1. Treatments for conditions causing high MCHC can include corticosteroids, splenectomy, and blood transfusions.

2. The abnormal size of the RBCs may affect the MCHC.

3. Increased level of lipids in the blood gives a high result because of high hemoglobin

Pre analytical errors

It can also occur in conditions where red blood cells are fragile or destroyed, leading to hemoglobin being present outside of the red blood cells.

Corrective action

Appropriate temperature and other preservation conditions are important.

Post analytical errors

incorrect results reported because of post-analytical data entry errors and transcription errors and wrong calculation.

Corrective action

Suggesting strong information report system

Normal range

in adults is 33.4–35.5 grams per deciliter (g/dL).