What do the results mean?

You will get results for each of the indices. Abnormal results may include one or more of the following:

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)

If your red blood cells are smaller than normal, it may mean you have:

• Iron deficiency anemia, the most common form of anemia. It happens when you don’t have enough iron in your body.
• Thalassemia, an inherited disease that can cause severe anemia

If your red blood cells are larger than normal, it may mean you have:

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)

If the amount of hemoglobin is lower than normal, it may mean you have:

If the amount of hemoglobin is higher than normal, it may mean you have:

• High level of cholesterol in the blood
• Anemia caused by a vitamin B deficiency

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)

If the average amount of hemoglobin is lower than normal, it may mean you have:

• Iron deficiency anemia
• Thalassemia

If the average amount of hemoglobin is higher than normal, it may mean you have:

• Hemolytic anemia, a type of anemia that happens when red blood cells are broken up in the blood stream
• Hereditary spherocytosis, a rare genetic disorder that causes anemia and gallstones

Red cell distribution width (RDW)

If your results were normal, it means your red blood cells are normal in size and are all about the same size. If your results were not normal, it means there are differences in the size of your red blood cells. This measurement is not enough to make a diagnosis, so RDW results are usually combined with the results of other indices and other blood tests. The combination of results can help confirm a diagnosis.

If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.

Learn more about laboratory tests, references ranges, understanding results.