Red Blood Cell Indices (RBC Indices, Mean Corpuscular ATARI MRO GSA Ea nau M aT cel Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration [MCHC]) Test Description Red blood cells (RBCs) transport oxygen via hemoglobin molecules, The amount of oxygen received by tissue depends on the number and function of RBCs and their hemoglobin concentration. The RBC indices are the mean corpuscular vol- ume (MCV), the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). The indices are used to determine whether the RBCs are normal in size and whether they contain an appropriate amount of hemoglobin.Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) is a measurement of the average RBC size. If the MCV is elevated, the RBCs are larger than normal, or macrocytic This occurs with macrocytic anemias such as those due to Vitamin B,, deficiency or folic acid deficiency. If the MCV is decreased, the RBCs are smaller than normal, or micro- cytic. Microcytic conditions include iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia. If the MCV is within normal range, the RBCs ate considered normocytic. MCV is calcu- lated thus: Hematocrit (in %) x 10 MOV = "EBC Gin millionsymm)Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) is a calculation of the amount of hemo- globin contained within the RBCs, MCH correlates with the MCV results, This is cal- culated thus: nach = Hemoetobin (in gL) x10 RBC (in millions/mm’)