MCHC
The concentration of hemoglobin within red blood cells.
| Typical reference range | 32–36 g/dL |
Ranges vary by laboratory, method, age and sex: always use the range printed on your own report. Why labs differ.
What it measures
MCHC is hemoglobin divided by hematocrit, describing how densely packed hemoglobin is inside red cells regardless of their size.
Why it matters
Low MCHC suggests hypochromic cells, while high MCHC can point to spherocytosis or a lab artifact.
What a high result can mean
High values occur with hereditary spherocytosis, autoimmune hemolysis, and artifacts from cold agglutinins, lipemia or hemolysis in the sample.
What a low result can mean
Low values are seen with iron deficiency and thalassemia.
What affects the result
Physiologically constrained; results above ~37 g/dL often reflect a sample issue. Interpret with MCV, MCH and the blood smear.
Units and conversion
Usually reported in g/dL.
- From g/L: multiply by 0.1 to get g/dL
Also called on lab reports
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration, Mean Cell Hemoglobin Concentration
Related tests: Red Blood Cells
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a healthcare professional.