Low Mch Blood Test Results. Low mch levels usually occur as a result of iron deficiency that has led to anemia. Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin. A low mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration mchc shows that someone s red blood cells do not have enough hemoglobin. Often a lack of iron causes anemia with a low mch.
An mch value calculated below 27 5 pg is considered low mch. Typically if the mch level is below 26 this is considered too low. A low mch is medically called hypochromic because there is less haemoglobin in the red blood cells. If your mch levels drop temporarily you may not have any symptoms. This means that there s a low amount of hemoglobin present per red blood cell. On average your mch should be between 27 5 to 33 2 picograms pg per cell.
Hemoglobin is an iron rich protein and a lack of it may indicate anemia.
These low mch symptoms are similar to the symptoms of anemia. What is the normal range for mch. Anemia can cause abnormal mch readings on blood tests. The doctor may look closely at mch along with mcv and mchc if you show signs of anemia or certain nutritional deficiencies. Doctors may recommend that individuals add more iron and vitamin b6 to their diet. Microcytic anemia is a condition in which unusually small red cell are present.