MCH - Definition
April 2018
Definition
MCH stands for either mean corpuscular hemoglobin, or mean cell hemoglobin, and corresponds to the mean mass of hemoglobin present in a red blood cell. It is calculated based on complete blood count (CBC), which signifies the precise analysis of cells contained in the blood, including both the red blood cells that transport oxygen from the lungs to the cells, and white blood cells, or leukocytes, involved in the body's defense system. It is often, however, replaced by the MCHC, signifying mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, which is a more precise value, generally required to characterize a form of anemia.