Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) is the average amount of hemoglobin carried inside each of your red blood cells, calculated from your hemoglobin and red cell count. It reflects how much oxygen-carrying protein a typical cell holds.
MCH tends to track closely with cell size, so it adds detail to the picture of what a given anemia looks like. Clinicians use it alongside MCV and MCHC to characterize red cells and point toward a cause.
An above-range MCH usually goes hand in hand with larger red cells and can reflect vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, or other causes of macrocytosis. It's interpreted together with MCV rather than on its own.
A below-range MCH typically accompanies smaller, paler cells and most often points to iron deficiency or an inherited hemoglobin condition such as thalassemia.
A typical adult MCH runs roughly 27-33 picograms per cell, but this index is best read in combination with your other red cell measurements. Your clinician will interpret the overall pattern.
Sources
Educational context only, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Reference ranges vary by lab, age and sex; always discuss your results with a clinician.