MCH blood test
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
In short
A typical adult MCH result is 26 to 33 pg for women and 27 to 33 pg for men. A high MCH usually comes with large red cells and has the same causes. On its own, it is rarely a concern. Always read your result against the range printed on your own report.
The average amount of hemoglobin inside each red blood cell.
MCH is the average amount of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein, in each red cell. Bigger cells hold more, so MCH almost always moves with MCV, the average cell size. Doctors mostly use it to confirm what MCV already shows.
Is my MCH high or low?
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Typical range
| For | Range | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Female | 26–33 | pg |
| Male | 27–33 | pg |
Typical ranges for adults. Labs differ a little, so the range printed next to your result is the one to go by.
If your MCH is high
A high MCH usually comes with large red cells and has the same causes. On its own, it is rarely a concern.
Common reasons
- Regular alcohol use
- Low vitamin B12 or folate
- Some medicines, including some seizure medicines and chemotherapy
- An underactive thyroid or a liver condition
- Less often: a bone marrow condition, mostly in older adults
If your MCH is low
A low MCH usually comes with small red cells. The most common reason is low iron, followed by thalassemia trait, a usually harmless inherited difference.
Common reasons
- Low iron, often from heavy periods, pregnancy or blood loss
- Thalassemia trait, a usually harmless inherited difference in hemoglobin
- Long-term inflammation or illness
- Less often: slow, hidden bleeding from the stomach or bowel
What can throw it off
Very fatty blood after a meal, or clumped cells in the sample, can make MCH read falsely high.
Questions to take to your appointment
- 1Does my MCV point the same way?
- 2Should my iron be checked?
- 3Does this matter if my hemoglobin is in range?
Read together with
Doctors rarely read MCH alone. These usually sit next to it.
Quick answers
What is the MCH blood test?
MCH (Mean corpuscular hemoglobin): The average amount of hemoglobin inside each red blood cell. MCH is the average amount of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein, in each red cell. Bigger cells hold more, so MCH almost always moves with MCV, the average cell size. Doctors mostly use it to confirm what MCV already shows.
What is a normal MCH level?
For most adults, MCH is typically 26 to 33 pg for women and 27 to 33 pg for men. Labs differ a little, so the range printed next to your result is the one to go by.
What does a high MCH mean?
A high MCH usually comes with large red cells and has the same causes. On its own, it is rarely a concern. Common reasons include regular alcohol use; low vitamin B12 or folate; some medicines, including some seizure medicines and chemotherapy; and an underactive thyroid or a liver condition. A doctor reads it together with your other results and how you feel.
What does a low MCH mean?
A low MCH usually comes with small red cells. The most common reason is low iron, followed by thalassemia trait, a usually harmless inherited difference. Common reasons include low iron, often from heavy periods, pregnancy or blood loss; thalassemia trait, a usually harmless inherited difference in hemoglobin; long-term inflammation or illness; and less often: slow, hidden bleeding from the stomach or bowel.
What can affect my MCH result?
Very fatty blood after a meal, or clumped cells in the sample, can make MCH read falsely high.
What should I ask my doctor about my MCH?
Questions worth taking to the appointment: Does my MCV point the same way? Should my iron be checked? Does this matter if my hemoglobin is in range?
What this page can’t do
It reads each number on its own.
Doctors read results together — ALT with AST, ferritin with hemoglobin, TSH with free T4. A pattern says more than any single flag.
It doesn't know you.
Your age, your medicines, how you feel and your last result all change what a number means.
It doesn't remember.
Close this page and your results are gone. That's on purpose: nothing was ever sent to us.
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