Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (HCM) is one of the blood test parameters that measures hemoglobin size and coloration within the blood cell, which can also be called the mean globular hemoglobin (HGM).
HCM as well as VCM are ordered on a blood count to identify the type of anemia that the person has, hyperchromic, normochromic, or hypochromic.
Possible HCM changes
In this way, the possible changes in the result of this exam are:
High HCM:
When the values are above 33 picograms in the adult, this indicates hyperchromic anemia, thyroid alterations or alcoholism.
The causes of high HCM are due to the increase in the size of red blood cells are larger than desired, leading to the onset of megaloblastic anemia caused by the lack of vitamin B12 and folic acid.
HCM low:
When values are below 26 picograms in adults, this indicates hypochromic anemia that may be caused by iron deficiency anemia due to iron deficiency, and thalassemia, which is a type of genetic anemia.
When HCM is low this indicates that red blood cells are smaller than normal and because the cells themselves are small, the mean hemoglobin value is low.
HCM and CHCM reference values
The normal values of the corpuscular hemoglobin in picograms per red blood cell are:
- Newborn: 27 - 31
- 1 to 11 months: 25 - 29
- 1 to 2 years: 25 - 29
- 3 to 10 years: 26 - 29
- 10 to 15 years: 26 - 29
- Male: 27 - 29
- Female: 27 - 29
The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (CHCM) values range between 32 and 36%.
These values indicate the coloration the blood cell has, so when the values are low, the center of the cell becomes whitish and when the values are increased, the cell becomes darker than normal.
Types of anemia
The types of anemia are very varied and knowing what kind the person has is important to identify their cause and how to perform the best treatment. In the case of iron-deficiency anemia, simply take iron supplements and eat more iron-rich foods to cure, such anemia. However, when the person has thalassemia, which is another type of anemia, it may even be necessary to make blood transfusions. Know the types of anemia, your symptoms treatments.
