This document defines red blood cell indices and explains how they are used to help diagnose anemia. It describes that red blood cell indices are calculated from a complete blood count test and include the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Each of these indices provides information about the average size, hemoglobin content, and hemoglobin concentration of red blood cells, which can indicate if cells are macrocytic, microcytic, hypochromic, or hyperchromic. Normal ranges for each index are provided.

1. BT 1103 HEMATOLOGY 1
TOPIC 12: RED BLOOD CELL INDICES

2. LEARNING OUTCOME
Define red cell indices
Identify the parameters needed for red cell indices’s
calculation.
Explain the purpose of red cell indices.
Define MCH, MCV and MCHC.
Describe the normal values and red cell indices significance.

3. RED BLOOD CELL INDICES
Red Blood Cell indices are part of the complete
blood count (CBC) test.
They are used to help diagnose the cause of
anemia, a condition in which there are too few red
blood cell.

4. INDICES OF RBC
Average red blood cell size (MCV)
Hemoglobin amount per red blood cell (MCH)
The amount of the hemoglobin relative to the size
of the cell (hemoglobin concentration per red blood
cell (MCHC)

5. MEAN CELL VOLUME (MCV)
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.
Normal range: 80-100 fL
To calculate the MCV, expressed in femtoliters (fl, or
10-15L), the following formula is used:

6. MCV
Cells are macrocytic (bigger size than
normal)
Cells are microcytic (smaller size than
normal)
80-96 fL >96 fL
<80
fL

7. MEAN CORPUSCULAR
HAEMOGLOBIN (MCH)
MCH measures the average amount of
hemoglobin in a red blood cell.
It is a calculation based on two other
values measured in the CBC

8. MCH

10. Cells are hypochromic (low Hb content,
pallor)
Cells are hyperchromic (high Hb content,
blush)
33-36 g/dL
<33 g/dl >36 g/dl

11. MEAN CORPUSCULAR
HEMOGLOBIN CONC (MCHC)
The MCHC is the average concentration of
hemoglobin inside a red blood cell.
The MCHC is calculated using two other values
in the CBC

12. the Hb, which measures the amount of
hemoglobin in the blood
the hemocrit (Hct), which measures the
percentage of red blood cells in a given volume of
blood
The MCHC = Hb/Hct.

13. So where do we usually found these
indices?

14. FULL
BLOOD
COUNT