What is MCH in blood test? Cause of low and high MCH
The term MCH in the blood test is an abbreviation that means average blood hemoglobin.. In other words, this test refers to the average amount of hemoglobin in each red blood cell.. Hemoglobin, which is a protein in red blood cells, transports oxygen to body tissues.. End.
Table of contents
- What is meant by MCH in blood test?
- How is the level of MCH determined?
- Normal level of MCH in blood test
- 1... The reason for low MCH in children and adults
- Symptoms of low MCH in the blood... High MCH in the test Blood
- Symptoms of high blood MCH
- Treatment of abnormal MCH levels
- 1....Treatment of low MCH
- 2...Treatment of high MCH
- Final words
- Questions Frequently
Asked What is meant by MCH in blood test?
MCH in the blood test shows the average hemoglobin of red blood cells.... This test is related to 2 other parameters, namely mean red blood cell volume (MCV) and mean red blood cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC).... Sometimes these three indicators are referred to as red blood cell index.
MCH results mirror MCV results... because larger red blood cells contain more hemoglobin and smaller red blood cells contain less of this substance.
Learn more: Mcv in blood test
MCH is very similar to MCHC, but should not be confused with it.. The difference between MCH and MCHC is that the MCHC index takes into account the volume or size of red blood cells.. while this information is not included in MCH.
How is the amount of MCH determined?
The level of MCH in the blood is determined as part of a complete blood count (CBC) panel.. Your doctor orders a CBC test to screen for a wide range of conditions.. The most common include anemia and infection.
The MCH test is calculated in a blood test using red blood cell analysis.. In fact, to calculate it, the amount of hemoglobin in a certain volume of blood must be divided by the number of red blood cells in it.
Normal level of MCH in blood test
The amount of MCH is expressed in picograms per cell. The table below shows the normal range of MCH in blood tests and its abnormal values in children and adults:
The above numbers may vary based on the device used for the test and the age of the person.... MCH level in the newborn blood test is 32 to 34 pg.
The amount of MCH in the blood test of pregnancy depends on the use or not of taking iron supplements.... If the mother takes supplements, the level of MCH does not change during pregnancy.... Otherwise, it decreases from the end of the second trimester of pregnancy.
See more: What is wbc in a blood test?... + White blood cell count test interpretation
1.... Causes of low MCH in children and adults
Low MCH in a blood test usually means that a person with anemia is iron deficient....Iron is an important element for the production of hemoglobin....The body absorbs a small part of the iron that is eaten to produce hemoglobin....The most common causes of iron deficiency are: lack of iron in the diet and loss of a large volume of blood due to surgery
or severe trauma..See more: The most important tests Blood
In very rare cases, low MCH occurs due to a genetic disease called thalassemia... In this disease, the production of hemoglobin is limited.. As a result, there are not many red blood cells circulating in the blood.
Learn more: RDW in blood test
In addition, microcytic anemia (small red blood cells due to lack of hemoglobin) and sickle cell anemia are sometimes the cause of low MCH in adults and children.
Symptoms of low blood MCH
At first, most people with low MCH levels experience no symptoms...but if MCH levels become too low or remain at low levels for a long time, symptoms may appear.. These symptoms may include the following:
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- Heartbeat
- Persistent weakness or fatigue
- Yellow or very pale skin
- Headache
- dizziness
2.... Cause of high MCH in blood test
Elevated MCH is usually a sign of macrocytic anemia. This condition occurs when the blood cells are too large. Macrocytic anemia can be caused by a deficiency of vitamin B12 or folate (vitamin B9). Your body needs both to make red blood cells.Learn more: Ferritin blood test
Other possible causes of high MCH include:
- Liver diseases hyperthyroidism
- Continuous drinking of alcohol
- Complications caused by some cancers
- Complications caused by infection
See more: What does hemoglobin (Hgb) show in a blood test?
Symptoms of high blood MCH
If MCH is high in a blood test, you may experience the following symptoms:
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- fatigue or physical weakness
- Yellow or pale skin
- Headache
If you are anemic due to vitamin B12 deficiency, you may experience the following symptoms:
- Tingling or tingling sensation in hands and feet
- Nausea and vomiting
- flatulence
- Psychological symptoms including depression and confusion
If folate deficiency is the cause of anemia, the following symptoms may occur:
- diarrhea
- Decreased appetite
- Excitability
- Fluent and sensitive language
Learn more: HCT in blood test
Treatment of abnormal MCH levels
The treatment of this complication depends on the cause of its occurrence....we will mention some of the most common treatment solutions.
Learn more: pdw in pregnancy blood test
1... Low MCH treatment
If the cause of low MCH in the blood test is due to iron deficiency, you should add iron-rich foods to your diet and take supplements.. However, iron injections may sometimes be recommended..
2... High MCH treatment
Anemia caused by vitamin B12 or folate deficiency is usually treated with lifestyle changes....for example, adding foods rich in vitamin B12 and folate to the diet can help....your doctor may also recommend the use of oral nutritional supplements... Of course, if you have problems absorbing vitamin B12, you should use injectable supplements under the supervision of a doctor.
Endword
Treatment of abnormal levels of MCH in the blood test depends on its difference from the normal range and the cause of this problem. Fortunately, most people can return the level of MCH to the normal range by changing their diet. Of course, some people may need oral and injectable nutritional supplements or other treatment solutions.
If you are concerned about the result of your MCH test, be sure to discuss it with your GP.... The doctor is the only person who can determine the need for treatment or refer you to another specialist.... For a consultation, go to the GCORP LLC website and make an appointment with LLC.. It is possible to make an appointment with a GP in person or online It has.
See more: Hepatitis B test.. Can this hepatitis be diagnosed with a blood test?
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be the level of MCH in a blood test?The normal range of this test varies from laboratory to laboratory and in different age groups... but usually its normal value is considered between 27 and 31.
What is the sign of low MCH?Iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia, microcytic anemia and Sickle cell anemia decreases MCH in the blood test.
MCH increases for some reasons.. MCH can be mentioned as vitamin B12 and folate deficiency, liver diseases, hyperthyroidism, constant drinking of alcohol, complications from some cancers and complications from infections.
Sources: healthline, medicalnewstoday
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- Symptoms of low MCH in the blood... High MCH in the test Blood
