Interpreting a blood test result - a bit OT

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

Can anyone tell me what low MCHC would mean? Like off the scale low. Neutrophils are low too but still on the scale. Everything else seems OK.

I'm seeing my GP on Tuesday anyway - so I expect she will mention it.

I did try a search engine but the sites I found were very 'medical speak' - and I couldn't follow them. Brainfog possibly.

Thanks - Scottie 

[irish]

The low MCHC that you refer to is the the mean corpuscle hemoglobin I believe. Mine is low also. The normal count at my lab is 32-26 and mine is in the 30 through 31 count. This is not very low, but it is inmportant when the ferritin level, iron sat, hematocrit and hgb are low and the RDW is high as this indicates iron deficiency anemia.

I don't know what it means when no other test is abnormal. That is surely something that you will have to ask your doc. It may be that you run high on this often and have a higher hemoglobin. I have struggled with the anemia for a long time with tests that go up and down but never stay normal. Beats me cause I would think that some of this is just related to the Sjogrens and red blood cell production. Good luck and if you get an answer please let me know cause I am curious. Thanks. Irish

[Jasper]

Scottie .....

This link may help. labtestsonline lists all of the tests and gives an explanation of the various tests and what various results may indicate.

https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cbc/tab/test/

[vrystaat]

A MCHC blood test could be ordered for someone who has signs of fatigue or weakness, when there is an infection, is bleeding or bruising easily or when there is noticeable inflammation. The MCHC test is most commonly used to evaluate for macrocytic anemia. MCHC tests for the levels of hemoglobin in the blood. This test is also referred to as an MCH test.

The symptoms of macrocytic anemia include:

• 
      Headache
      Fatigue
      Diarrhea
      Ataxia (poor balance)
      Tongue Soreness
      Reflex problems with deep tendons (used to test reflexes, which hepls for diagnosis)
      Tachycardia (fast heart rate)
      Posterior column sensation loss (this is the nerve pathway that gives sensation)
      Dyspnea

Anyone experiencing these symptoms should see a physician for diagnosis and treatment.

What does a low MCHC test result mean?
The average level for mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration sits around 33%.

If your levels are below 28%, then your doctor may consider them too low. Levels this low can be due to blood loss over time, too little iron in the body or hypochromic anemia. Hypochromic anemia or iron deficiency anemia, often means the red blood cells do not have enough hemoglobin to function correctly.
Further investigation should be carried out if this is the case. You may have a problem absorbing iron, a case of internal bleeding, any gastrointestinal tract tumors or a specific condition.

Treating Anemia

The doctor will use these numbers to help determine what kind of anemia a patient suffers from. Iron deficiency is the most common cause, and a change in diet should cause the blood to return to its normal state within a couple of weeks once the iron levels have been replenished.

What does a high MCHC test result mean?
If your levels are high (above the 33% average) then there's a chance you're suffering from macrocytic anemia.
A deficiency in folic acid could lead to this. Also, liver disease, hereditary spherocytes and vitamin B12 deficiency are sometimes responsible for this type of result. Burn victims also show elevated mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration.

Should I have my MCHC levels tested?
If you haven't already had your MCHC levels checked it's probably a good idea to ask your doctor for the tests to be done. The CBC test (Complete Blood Count) is a very common blood test that looks for for both the MCHC and MCV markers.

Are there ways to improve your MCHC levels:
Before trying to fix your hemoglobin levels you should get testing to find out what reason(s) is causing your condition.
If the cause is a systematic condition like bone marrow defects, cancer, kidney problems then you'll need to get specialized treatment.
If it's being caused by certain types of drugs, then you might want to look for alternative medications.

If it's due to nutritional deficiencies then you should eat more mineral rich food and/or create a supplement regiment. The most common nutritional deficiencies related to mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration levels are iron, folate, vitamin C and Vitamin B12.

So if you're feeling fatigued etc, ask to see a hematologist.

[broomstick]

as a Lab tech  I agree with vsytaat's info. this may help how you think about it:
MCHC ;mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration.
This test is normally part of a CBC. A CBC IS A Complete blood count.
LowMCHC means your hemoglobin concentration within your rbc's is below normal.
high MCHC means your hemoglobin concentration within your RBC's is above normal.
How does your hemoglobin read? If its in the normal range?If it is,I wouldn't be too concerned. I came down with an iron deficiency anemia a few months ago and MCHC was below normal. as a tech this value can be useful in judging the quality of a specimen. If the MCHC is abnormal, the specimen could be clotted.Or too old. I did a paper during my med tech internship and discovered the MCV (mean corpuscular volume) goes up as a specimen ages, and that will affect the calculation for the MCHC.
Please excuse the crappy typing, I had a stroke a year ago and i'm still doing the hunt-and-peck thing. my best to all,  Cheryl G