Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions â written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Red blood cell indices
Introduction
Red blood cell indices are blood tests that provide information about the hemoglobin content and size of red blood cells. Abnormal values indicate the presence of anemia and which type of anemia it is.[1]
Mean corpuscular volume
Mean corpuscular volume
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is the average size of a red blood cell and is calculated by dividing the hematocrit (Hct) by the red blood cell count.
- <math>MCV = \frac{Hct}{RBC}</math>
- Normal range: 80-100 Ξm3
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) is the average amount of hemoglobin (Hb) per red blood cell and is calculated by dividing the hemoglobin by the red blood cell count.
- <math>MCH = \frac{Hb}{RBC}</math>
- Normal range: 27-31 pg/cell
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is the average concentration of hemoglobin per red blood cell and is calculated by dividing the hemoglobin by the hematocrit.
- <math>MCHC = \frac{Hb}{Hct}</math>
- Normal range: 32-36 g/dL
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]