MCHC stands for mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, which is a measurement of the average concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of red blood cells. Hemoglobin is a protein molecule that carries oxygen to tissues within the body. The MCHC test is one of several measurements used to assess the function and health of red blood cells (RBC) to check for signs of anemia and other blood disorders. The MCHC test is part of a complete blood count (CBC), which includes other RBC indices such as mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) .

A low MCHC level means that the red blood cells do not have enough hemoglobin, which may indicate anemia. Anemia is a condition caused by not having enough healthy red blood cells, or the red blood cells you do have dont work as well as they should. Symptoms of anemia include fatigue, chronic tiredness, and difficulty breathing. A low MCHC level may also point to a more serious underlying condition, such as celiac disease or cancer. On the other hand, a high MCHC level indicates a higher concentration of hemoglobin in the red blood cells.

If your doctor suspects that you have a low MCHC, they will order a CBC, which includes a blood test to examine your MCHC levels and MCV test, which measures the average volume of your red blood cells. They will also check for iron levels, which measures whether your body absorbs iron the way it’s supposed to. The MCHC test can help a doctor determine the cause and severity of anemia. A typical MCHC reference range is 33-36 g/dL, although this may vary according to the lab.