I'm F on blood test i had normal Hb (12.9) yet (MCV=82, MCH=25.5, MCHC=31.1) were low, so do i have anemia?

Question

I'm F on blood test i had normal Hb (12.9) yet (MCV=82, MCH=25.5, MCHC=31.1) were low, so do i have anemia?

Answer 1

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is a measurement of the average size of your RBCs. The MCV is elevated when your RBCs are larger than normal (macrocytic), for example in anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. When the MCV is decreased, your RBCs are smaller than normal (microcytic) as is seen in iron deficiency anemia or thalassemias.

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) is a calculation of the average amount of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin inside a red blood cell. Macrocytic RBCs are large so tend to have a higher MCH, while microcytic red cells would have a lower value.

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is a calculation of the average concentration of hemoglobin inside a red cell. Decreased MCHC values (hypochromia) are seen in conditions where the hemoglobin is abnormally diluted inside the red cells, such as in iron deficiency anemia and in thalassemia. Increased MCHC values (hyperchromia) are seen in conditions where the hemoglobin is abnormally concentrated inside the red cells, such as in burn patients and hereditary spherocytosis, a relatively rare congenital disorder.

A diagnosis of anemia would have to be made by your Dr. I do not know that those values would require treatment, but like I said, that is something for your Dr to determine based on your other medical history.