What happens if MCH count is high?
High MCH scores are commonly a sign of macrocytic anemia. This condition occurs when the blood cells are too big, which can be a result of not having enough vitamin B12 or folic acid in the body.
Why would the MCH be high?
High MCH value can often be caused by anemia due to a deficiency of B vitamins, particularly B-12 and folate. Both of these vitamins are required by your body in order to make red blood cells. These types of anemia can develop if your diet is low in B vitamins or if your body does not absorb B-12 or folate properly.
How high can MCH levels go?
MCH levels over 34 pg are generally considered abnormally high. The most common reason for high MCH is macrocytic anemia, which is a blood disorder in which the body fails to produce enough red blood cells.
What is a high MCH level?
What Is High MCH and What Can It Mean? MCH levels over 34 pg are generally considered abnormally high. The most common reason for high MCH is macrocytic anemia, which is a blood disorder in which the body fails to produce enough red blood cells.
What cancers cause high MCH levels?
Having MCH levels above 31 picograms/cell is most commonly associated with the following conditions: Polycythemia vera (a rare blood disease typically caused by a genetic mutation where the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells) Congenital heart defects. Certain types of kidney diseases, including kidney cancer.
What does MCH and MCHC mean in a blood test?
Doctors use information from the CBC to calculate your MCH. A similar measure to MCH is something doctors call “mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration” (MCHC). MCHC checks the average amount of hemoglobin in a group of red blood cells. Your doctor may use both measurements to help in a diagnosis of anemia.
What does a low MCHC mean in a blood test?
A low mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) shows that someone’s red blood cells do not have enough hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein, and a lack of it may indicate anemia. Hemoglobin is responsible for the red color in blood and for circulating oxygen around the body.