This document discusses various blood indices used to classify anemias, including mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). It defines each index and provides the normal ranges. MCH represents the average amount of hemoglobin per red blood cell. Low MCH values are seen in microcytic anemias, while raised MCH values are found in macrocytic normochromic anemia. MCV represents the average red blood cell volume, with low values in microcytic anemias and raised values in macrocytic anemias. MCHC expresses the average hemoglobin concentration per red blood cell volume, with low

1. Mr. Govardhan Joshi

2. Introduction
• Purpose of determining blood indices is to
correlate the fundamental result obtained in
CBC
• Also useful to classify anemia

3. MEAN CORPUSCULAR HEMOGLOBIN
• It is defined as the amount of hemoglobin in
average red cell
Or
Average amount of Hb in all the red cell
• It is directly proportional to the amount of
hemoglobin and the size of the erythrocyte
• Normal range = 27-32pg
• 1pg=

4. Formula

5. Interpretation of MCH values
• Low MCH values: are found in microcytic
hypochromic anaemias and also when red
cells are microcytic and normochromic. In
thalassaemia minor the MCH is low even
when anaemia is mild (MCHC is often normal)
• Raised MCH values: found in macrocytic
normochromic anaemia

6. Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
• It is defined as the average volume of red cell
• It Provides information on red cell size
• It is measured in femtolitres.
• Normal range= 87±5fl
• 1fL= L

7. Formula

8. Interpretation of MCV values
• Low MCV values: are found in microcytic
anaemias particularly iron deficiency, anaemia
of chronic disease and thalassaemia
• Raised MCV values: are found in macrocytic
anaemias, marked reticulocytosis, and chronic
alcoholism

9. MEAN CORPUSCULAR HEMOGLOBIN
CONCENTRATION (MCHC)
• The MCHC expresses the average
concentration of hemoglobin per unit volume
of erythrocytes.
• It is expressed in percentage.
• Normal value= 32-36%

10. Basic formula
or

11. Interpretation of MCHC values
• Low MCHC values are found in iron deficiency
anemia and other conditions in which the red
cells are microcytic and hypochromic.
• An increased MCHC can occur in marked
spherocytosis.

12. Summary of red cell indices in
common anaemias
Anemia MCV MCH MCHC
Normocytic
normochromic N N N
Microcytic
hypochromic D D D
Macrocytic
normochromic I I N