MCHC (blood test): interpretation, norm

Each of us met with the fact that sometimes, with any disease or just a routine checkup, the doctor gave directions to a general blood test. Among all the indicators met one, quite incomprehensible - MCHC. What is this indicator, why is it determined and how does it change depending on the state of the organism?

What is MCHC?

MCHC is an erythrocyte index characterizing the state of our erythrocytes - the main blood cells. This index shows how much hemoglobin is contained in all red blood cells.

Hemoglobin - the main protein of blood, responsible for transport of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood. Thus, MCHC shows how much oxygen can be connected and transported by all red blood cells.

The main way to determine MCHC is a blood test. Deciphering it indicates a decreased or increased amount of hemoglobin and determines the indications for treatment (if necessary).

This index is determined together with some others, for example, such as the average erythrocyte volume, the average hemoglobin content in the erythrocyte. These indicators indicate the activity and functional usefulness of red blood cells.

These parameters should be determined if the patient has anemia of various genesis (reduction of red blood cells or hemoglobin), hereditary diseases associated with the formation of defective erythrocytes, and (indirectly) with respiratory insufficiency.

The rate of this indicator

What is the norm of MCHC in the blood test? This unit is measured in grams per liter.

Depending on sex and age, several variants of the norm are distinguished:

• In children under 2 weeks the norm of this indicator lies in the range from 280 to 350 g / l.
• Up to 4 months the indicators slightly increase - up to 370 g / l, and up to 12 years practically do not change.
• From the age of 12, there is a slight difference in this indicator: girls have a maximum of 360 g / l, and boys - up to 380. This is due to the onset of menstrual function, blood loss and hormonal changes.
• Up to 18 years, this difference remains; From 18 to 45 years, the indicators are equalized - 320-360 g / l.
• From the age of 45 to the old age, the minimum value of this indicator is reduced - MCHC in the analysis of the blood of women is 300 g / l, and for men it remains unchanged (the decrease can be observed after 75 years). All this is due to aging of the body and a decrease in the formation of new cells.

As you can see, the indicator differs relative constancy and practically does not change during life. What other factors can affect the change in the MCHC level?

Blood test - transcript

The norm of this indicator, as was said, lies in the range from 320 to 380 g / l. Together with it, the mean volume of the erythrocyte (MCV) and the mean concentration of hemoglobin in one erythrocyte (MCH) should be determined. These indicators are in direct dependence on each other (if one changes, others change). This is done for differential diagnosis of anemia from each other, as well as for determining the usefulness of red blood cells and indications for blood transfusion.

In addition, the amount of hemoglobin must be determined. If its normal number is observed with MCHC within normal limits, MCH should be considered. With its reduction, it is possible to judge the presence of microcytic polycythemia (abundant blood saturation with small, malofunctional erythrocytes). Inverse data (reduction of MCHC and hemoglobin in normal MCV and MCH) indicate a disruption in the synthesis of transport protein.

Diseases leading to a change in this indicator

What can lead to a change in this erythrocyte index?

The main disease in which this indicator varies is anemia.

They can be of different genesis. Allocate anemia associated with a violation of the synthesis of red blood cells, with increased disintegration, with their loss.

The first group of anemia is the pathology of the erythrocyte sprout. It can be observed during irradiation, as well as in certain diseases (gastritis, COPD).

Anemia of the second group is manifested as a result of excessive activity of the spleen - the main place of decay of erythrocytes. This is manifested, most often, in the syndrome of hypersplenism, when the pathological activity of the spleen cells is observed.

Anemia associated with blood loss is observed in women with profuse menstruation, as well as in patients with bleeding ulcers of the stomach and duodenum.

It is at these states that a change in MCHC is usually observed. A blood test (decoding it) allows you to determine the nature of anemia.

Decrease in the level of this index

The indicator of saturation of erythrocytes by hemoglobin is practically constant. It is used to determine the error of the analyzers.

The main method for determining MCHC is a blood test. This indicator is increased, most often, as a result of a hardware error (the states leading to its increase are extremely rare). Usually there is a decrease in the volume of hemoglobin.

It also happens that with a normal, working device, a low level of this erythrocyte index is determined. Reduction in concentration is most often observed with anemia, which was mentioned above. The organism does not have time to synthesize new, full-fledged red blood cells, and the lack of cells needs to be replenished. It is because of this that cells with less than necessary hemoglobin are formed. These cells are not able to fully perform their function, which leads to the development of tissue hypoxia.

In some cases, there may be an error in the calculations (incorrect blood sampling conditions, tube contamination), which leads to a decrease in the index. In this case, the number of MCHCs must be re-determined. The analysis of blood (its decoding already should be spent by the laboratory assistant, to avoid errors in calculations) it is necessary to hand over repeatedly.

Increase in

It is extremely rare, but it happens that the indicator of hemoglobin concentration may exceed the norm. This is due to the development of hereditary diseases - hyperchromic anemia, as a result of which the shape of erythrocytes is disturbed (in norm it is discoid, and in pathology - oval, spherical). In addition, with hyperosmolar disorders (associated with electrolyte blood composition) , the relative amount of hemoglobin may increase, which suggests a second blood test for the determination of MCHC. It can be increased in the case of the formation of normal red blood cells, but with an increase in the amount of hemoglobin (which inevitably leads to an increase in the color index).

Conditions are quite rare, and usually their manifestation is written off as negligence in the conduct of the study (except for spherocytosis - it is perfectly defined even in a light microscope).

That is why, usually, and repeated research is required, which allows to determine the concentration of MCHC on another device.

Errors in the research

Sometimes you can observe the following picture in the definition of MCHC. A blood test (decoding - increased) is performed with a number of violations. In the preliminary determination of the form of red blood cells and the presence of normal, discoid cells, it should immediately be suspected that the study was done incorrectly. This can be facilitated by a poorly washed test tube with the remains of someone else's blood, expired shelf life of the reagents, improper tuning of the analyzer. When re-examining on another device or manual calculation, the MCHC level is usually within normal limits (if anemia has not been detected before).

Sometimes blood is taken away with a syringe. As a result, damage to erythrocytes occurs with the release of hemoglobin into the plasma, due to which a small level of MCHC is sometimes determined. A blood test (decoding - reduced) indicates either the presence of anemia (if all the conditions of the study are met) or a significant lesion of red blood cells, which created a picture of a decrease in the level of the erythrocyte index.

What should I do if the indicator decreases?

As mentioned, the decrease in MCHC is due to a decrease in the hemoglobin level in the blood. To improve it, some mandatory measures are taken.

First of all, the patient's food ration is adjusted. When the hemoglobin level in the plasma decreases, the patient is shown the reception of such products as apples, beef and pork liver, pomegranates and pomegranate juice, meat. All of them contribute to the improvement of hemoglobin synthesis and increase its concentration (as well as the level of MCHC) in the blood. After a certain course of "dietotherapy" it is necessary to conduct a general blood test. Decoding MCHC will determine the effectiveness of the reception of these products, the effectiveness of such "treatment" and the determination of indications for taking medications.

If the products do not help, you need to resort to parenteral administration of vitamins and iron preparations to normalize the body.

Where is the research conducted?

If you are worried for a long time by weakness, fatigue, weakness, then all this can talk about the development of anemia. Therefore, the definition of MCHC (blood test) should be made. Deciphering will make it possible to understand what is happening to you.

This analysis can be done at any health facility, where there is a more or less equipped laboratory. In outpatient clinics, there is usually no such equipment, so the patient is forced to go to the city or district hospital (polyclinic).

The procedure is rather fast. A few hours later you can get a ready blood test. MCHC (the norm of which was mentioned above), more precisely, its level, will allow to determine whether the case lies in anemia or whether there is usual fatigue and moral overstrain.

The analysis is usually done according to the doctor's prescription, although it can be paid for. Its price is low, which makes it available to any person.

Why is it important to determine this indicator?

Anemia is a formidable harbinger of various disorders in the body. If you do not diagnose it in time, you can start the state so much that the patient will need if not a hemopoietic transplant, then a massive transfusion of blood components (in particular, erythrocyte mass). That is why, in the presence of the first symptoms of anemia, it is necessary to conduct a blood test and carefully study its indices. Do not, however, try to heal yourself; It is better to show the results of tests to the doctor, so that he determines the further treatment tactics and was able to timely identify and prevent many malfunctions in the body. Self-medication, in this case, can only hurt and worsen everything.

If the treatment was started in a timely manner, it is possible to bring all blood counts to a normal level and return the patient to his daily affairs.