This document discusses blood indices and their significance. It describes key blood indices like mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). MCV measures the average red blood cell volume, MCH measures the average hemoglobin content per red blood cell, and MCHC measures the hemoglobin concentration in a given volume of packed red blood cells. Abnormal values of these indices can indicate different types of anemias, like iron deficiency anemia resulting in microcytic hypochromic red blood cells. The document also covers other blood indices like color index and mean corpuscular diameter.

1. Blood Indices
Dr. Sai Sailesh Kumar G
Associate Professor
Department of Physiology
RDGMC
DR Sai Sailesh Kumar G 1

2. Case study
An 18 year old male subject complained of
generalized weakness and fatigue. On clinical
examination, yellowish discoloration was visible on
skin and conjunctivae. His plasma bilirubin level was
2mg%. Van den Bergh reaction was indirect positive.
What is the diagnosis. Enlist any three causes for the
same.
DR Sai Sailesh Kumar G 2

3. Case study
Hemolytic or pre-hepatic jaundice
Sickle cell anemia
Congenital spherocytosis
Thalassemia
DR Sai Sailesh Kumar G 3

4. Learning objectives
 Describe blood indices
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5. Introduction
 The features of RBC such as volume, number, color
indicate the quality of blood
 These features are referred as blood indices
 The blood indices are calculated from packed cell
volume, hemoglobin concentration and red cell count
 The blood indices are
1. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
2. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)
3. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
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6. Mean corpuscular volume
 MCV is the average volume of the red cells
 It is calculated by dividing PCV in 100 mL of
blood by RBC count in 100 mL of blood
 It is expressed in femtolitres (fL)
 Normal value is 87-90 fL
 RBCs are called as normocytes when the volume
is with in normal range
 Cell with MCV >95 fL – Macrocytes
 Cell with MCV <80 fL - Microcytes
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7. Mean corpuscular volume
 MCV is increased in megaloblastic anemia due
to deficiency of folic acid
 MCV is increased in pernicious anemia due to
deficiency of vitamin B12
 MCV is decreased in iron deficiency anemia
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8. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
 MCH is the average mass of hemoglobin in
picogram contained in each red cell
 It is calculated by dividing hemoglobin content in
100 mL of blood by RBC count in 100 mL of blood
 Normal value is 27-32 pg (picogram)
 RBCs are referred as normochromic if MCH is 27-32
pg
 Cell with <25pg of MCH – hypochromic
 MCH is decreased in microcytic hypochromic
anemia (iron deficiency anemia)
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9. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
concentration
 MCHC is expressed as percentage
 It is the amount of hemoglobin per 100 mL of RBC
 Normal value is 32-38 %
 RBCs are referred as normochromic if MCHC is with
in the normal range
 Decreased MCHC- hypochromic
 MCHC is decreased in microcytic hypochromic
anemia (iron deficiency anemia)
 MCHC in pernicious anemia???
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10. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
concentration
 Anemia never be hyperchromic
 MCHC can never ne >38%
 In pernicious anemia- Macrocytic hypochromic/
normochromic anemia
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11. Color index
 It is calculated by dividing percentage of Hb with
percentage of RBC
 Normal color index is 1
 In hypochromic anemia- CI is low
 In macrocytic anemia – CI is increased
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12. Mean corpuscular diameter
 MCD
 Normal value- 7.2-7.3 micrometer
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13. DR Sai Sailesh Kumar G 13

14. THANK YOU
DR Sai Sailesh Kumar G 14