RBC indices

Alternative names:

blood indices; erythrocyte indices; MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin); MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration); MCV (mean corpuscular volume); red cell mass measurement

Normal values:

MCV: 80 to 95 femtoliter
MCH: 27 to 31 picograms/cell
MCHC: 32 to 36 grams/deciliter

What abnormal results mean:

Anemias have been classified as follows:
normocytic/normochromic (NC/NC) anemia:

• acute blood loss
• aplastic anemia (for example, due to chloramphenicol toxicity)
• prosthetic heart valves
• sepsis
• tumor

microcytic/hypochromic anemia:

• iron deficiency
• lead poisoning
• thalassemia

microcytic/normochromic anemia:

• erythropoietin deficiency secondary to renal failure

macrocytic/normochromic anemia:

• chemotherapy
• folate deficiency
• vitamin B12 deficiency