High MCH Blood Test

Submitted by Nic on November 9, 2012

Human blood is made up of many different components. Some of these components are parts of the blood itself while others may be substances that are being transported by the blood. Blood is used to transport nutrients, oxygen and hormones around the body. Waste products are also transported in the blood to areas such as the kidneys where they are removed from the body.

What is a CBC Test?

A complete blood count is a test that is conducted to check the health of the blood. The CBC test is one of the basic medical tests conducted on any individual who is ill. The CBC test is often conducted on healthy people as well, as a means of determining the actual status of their health. One of the components of a CBC test is the Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin count. This count is often abbreviated as the MCH count.

Importance of a MCH Blood Test

The MCH blood test is used to determine the amount of hemoglobin for every red blood cell of the tested blood. This result is used to determine the oxygen carrying capabilities of the blood. The normal range for an MCH blood test is between 26 and 33 picograms of hemoglobin per cell of blood that has been analyzed. Anemia is a common condition affecting people across the world. It results in an individual suffering from fatigue and generally low energy levels because there is insufficient oxygen reaching the cells of the body. Anemia may be caused by various conditions including a deficiency of iron in the blood.

Test Results

High MCH blood test results are reported whenever the reading of hemoglobin rises above 33 picograms per cell of blood analyzed. There are many conditions that can cause high MCH blood test levels. These include vitamin B12 deficiency and thyroid malfunction. When the patient's blood work reports a high MCH blood test result, the doctor will test the vitamin and hormone levels in the blood to understand the cause of the problem. In most cases, a high MCH blood test condition is treated by improving the diet in such a way that it solves the deficiency that is causing the problem in the first place.

As with all medical conditions, a high MCH blood test count may be caused by other medications and medical conditions that interact with the body in the specific way that causes these problems. One should discuss the condition with a doctor for an accurate diagnosis of the condition.

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