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MCH measures how much hemoglobin there is in a red blood cell on average. A value that is too low can point to iron deficiency anaemia, and a value that is too high to anaemia caused by a vitamin B deficiency.[1]
On this page you can read what MCH is, what the guidelines say about a value that is too low or too high, what affects your value and which other values are best read alongside it.
Also known as: mean corpuscular hemoglobin, the average amount of hemoglobin per red blood cell. At the lab: n/a.
Red blood cells are also called erythrocytes. They are made in your bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside your large bones. They contain hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein that carries oxygen from your lungs to every cell in your body.[1]
MCH stands for mean corpuscular hemoglobin. It measures how much hemoglobin there is on average in a single red blood cell.[1]
MCH is one of the red blood cell indices, together with MCV, MCHC and RDW. Together they tell you something about the size, shape and quality of your red blood cells.[1]
Your cells need oxygen to grow, renew themselves and make energy. Hemoglobin carries that oxygen around your body.[1]
There are different forms of anaemia. Each form affects your red blood cells in its own way. The indices help your healthcare provider work out which form it might be.[1]
You often have this test as part of a complete blood count at a routine check-up. You may also have it if you have symptoms that can fit with anaemia, such as shortness of breath, weakness, tiredness, headaches, dizziness, pale skin or cold hands and feet.[1]
Your result shows the reference range the lab uses. If your value falls within the limits, the lab calls it normal. Your healthcare provider also looks at your symptoms, your medical history and your other blood values.[1]
| Value | Can point to | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Lower than normal[1] | Iron deficiency anaemia | Everyone who has this test |
| Higher than normal[1] | Anaemia caused by a vitamin B deficiency | Everyone who has this test |
| One or more indices not normal[1] | A form of anaemia | Everyone who has this test |
Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, on the red blood cell indices. MedlinePlus gives no limits of its own; those come from the lab.[1]
If your red blood cells contain less haemoglobin than normal, this may point to anaemia caused by iron deficiency. This is the most common form of anaemia. It means your body has too little iron.[1]
If your red blood cells contain more haemoglobin than normal, this may point to anaemia caused by a lack of vitamin B.[1]
BioProfile is working on its own zones for each value, from risk to optimal. A doctor reviews those zones before they appear in your result.
Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein. If you have too little iron in your body, there may be less hemoglobin in your red blood cells.[1]
A vitamin B deficiency can go together with a higher amount of hemoglobin per red blood cell.[1]
You don't need to do anything special to prepare for this test. A healthcare provider takes a little blood from a vein in your arm.[1]
MCH is included in all five packages, from BioProfile 31 to BioProfile 150.[2]
The BioProfile editorial team wrote this page on 3 October 2026 from the sources below, which we read on 3 October 2026. Every number on this page appears in one of those sources, with that source's number next to it. An expert has yet to review this page; once they have, the expert's name and the date of the review will appear at the top. This page explains and does not diagnose. Talk to your GP about a value outside the range.
