MCV - 42fL MCH - 83pg MCHC - 28 mg/dl
Reading File
Finding Sources
Reading File
Reading File
These values are severely abnormal. Let me interpret them clearly.
CBC Indices Interpretation
| Index | Patient Value | Normal Range | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCV | 42 fL | 80–96 fL | ↓↓ Markedly low (microcytic) |
| MCH | 83 pg | 27–33 pg | ↑↑ Markedly elevated |
| MCHC | 28 mg/dL | 33–36 g/dL | ↓ Low (hypochromic) |
Note: MCH of 83 pg is extremely high — roughly 2.5× the upper limit of normal. This combination is physiologically inconsistent and almost certainly represents a reporting or transcription error, likely a unit mix-up (e.g., MCH may actually be 8.3 pg instead of 83 pg, or the values were entered in the wrong fields).
If taken at face value — the pattern is contradictory:
- MCV = 42 fL → Severely microcytic (cells are very small)
- MCH = 83 pg → Would indicate massively increased hemoglobin per cell — impossible if the cell is tiny
- MCHC = 28 g/dL → Hypochromic (less Hb per unit volume) — consistent with microcytosis, but contradicts the MCH
Mathematically, MCHC = MCH / MCV × 10, so:
- Expected MCHC = (83 / 42) × 10 = ~19.8 g/dL — which doesn't match the stated 28 g/dL either
This confirms the values are internally inconsistent and likely contain an error.
Most Probable Correct Interpretation
If MCH were 8.3 pg (likely transcription error), the picture would be:
| Index | Corrected Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| MCV | 42 fL | Severely microcytic |
| MCH | ~8.3 pg | Severely hypochromic |
| MCHC | 28 g/dL | Hypochromic |
This pattern — microcytic hypochromic anemia — is classic for:
- Iron deficiency anemia (most common) — depleted iron stores → impaired Hb synthesis
- Thalassemia (alpha or beta) — deficient globin chain synthesis → small, pale cells
- Anemia of chronic disease (less commonly microcytic/hypochromic)
- Sideroblastic anemia — defective heme synthesis
Recommendation: Please recheck the MCH value. As documented in Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods, in microcytic anemias "the indices may be as low as an MCV of 50 fL, an MCH of 15 pg, and an MCHC of 22 g/dL" — an MCH of 83 pg has no physiologic basis alongside a microcytic MCV of 42 fL.
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