RBC Indices- MCV, MCH, MCHC II Blood Physiology

RBC Indices- MCV, MCH, MCHC II Blood Physiology
The slide will cover the following:
1. Introduction to RBC indices
2. Mean Corpuscular volume (MCV)
3. Mean Corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)
4. Mean Corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
5. Color index (CI)

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2. RBC indices
•The values of hemoglobin, PCV and total RBC count are used to
calculate red cell volume and red cell hemoglobin content and
concentration. These are called red blood cell indices.
•These include:
1. Mean cell volume (MCV)
2. Mean cell hemoglobin (MCH)
3. Mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)

3. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
•Volume of average red blood cell.
•Packed cell volume (PCV) is volume of total number of RBC in
per mm cubic of blood.
•MCV = PCV (%) ×10
RBC Count (million/ mm
3
)
•Expressed in femtoliters (I L = 10
-15
L)
•Normal value = 78 to 96 fL
•MCV is the index of RBC size. MCV less than 78 fLmicrocytic
more than 96 fLis macrocytic

4. Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)
•Weight(content) of hemoglobin in average RBC.
•MCH = Hb (mg/dl) ×10
RBC count (million/ mm
3
)
•Expressed in picograms (1 pg= 10
-12
g)
•Normal value 27-33 pg
•Less than 27 pghypochomicmicrocytic anemia

5. Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin
Concentration (MCHC)
•Average hemoglobin concentration per unit volume of packed
red cells.
•MCHC =Hb (g/100ml)
PCV/ 100 ml
•Normal value 33 to 37 g/dl (%)
•MCHC is reduced to 20% to 25% in hypochromic anemias

6. Color Index (CI)
•Ratio of hemoglobin percent and RBC percent
•Cl= Hb percent
RBC percent
•Normal value –0.85 to 1.10
•CI less than 0.85 indicates hypochomicanemia