Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)
Blood count (CBC) ·Also called: MCH, mean cell hemoglobin
What it is
MCH is the total haemoglobin in the sample divided by the number of red cells — the average payload each cell is carrying. Because bigger cells hold more pigment, MCH usually rises and falls in step with MCV.
Why your vet measures it
It adds confidence to the picture the other red cell indices are drawing. If MCV, MCH and MCHC all point the same way, the interpretation is solid; if one disagrees with the other two, that often flags a problem with the sample rather than the patient.
What a high result can mean
- Larger-than-average cells, typically from an anaemia the marrow is actively replacing
- Haemolysis in the sample tube, which releases pigment and distorts the calculation
- Marked lipaemia, which interferes with the optical measurement
What a low result can mean
- Iron deficiency, where cells are made small and under-filled
- Chronic inflammatory disease that limits iron availability to the marrow
Questions worth asking your vet
- Do the red cell indices agree with each other, or is one out of line?
- Could sample handling explain an odd value here?
Related terms
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