Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is the average concentration of hemoglobin within a given volume of your red blood cells, calculated from your hemoglobin and hematocrit. In short, it reflects how densely packed with hemoglobin your cells are.
Where MCH measures the amount of hemoglobin per cell, MCHC measures its concentration, which helps distinguish subtly different types of anemia. It's a useful cross-check within the red cell indices.
An above-range MCHC is relatively uncommon and can be seen in certain conditions such as hereditary spherocytosis, or it may reflect a lab measurement artifact. Because true elevations are unusual, it often prompts a closer look at the sample.
A below-range MCHC (hypochromia) means cells are paler and less concentrated with hemoglobin, most often due to iron deficiency or thalassemia.
A typical adult MCHC falls roughly in the 32-36 g/dL range, and it's best interpreted alongside MCV and MCH. Let your clinician read the full set of indices together.
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.