A part of the complete blood count ( CBC ) test that includes the average red blood cell size (MCV), hemoglobin amount per red blood cell (MCH), and hemoglobin concentration (hemoglobin amount relative to the size of the cell) per red blood cell (MCHC); MCH and MCHC are calculated from other CBC measurements (see also RBC count ). Red blood cells transport hemoglobin which, in turn, transports oxygen. The amount of oxygen received by tissue is dependent on the amount and function of RBCs and hemoglobin. The MCV, MCH, and MCHC reflect the size and hemoglobin content of individual red blood cells.

Alternative Names

Erythrocyte indices; Blood indices; Red cell mass measurement; MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin); MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration); MCV (mean corpuscular volume)