What is measured by MCHC?

MCHC, or Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration, is a measurement that specifically reflects the concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of red blood cells. It is an important parameter in evaluating anemia and other conditions affecting red blood cells.

This measurement gives a clear indication of how much hemoglobin is present in each red blood cell, allowing healthcare providers to determine if red blood cells are adequately saturated with hemoglobin, which is crucial for oxygen transport in the body. A low MCHC might suggest conditions like hypochromic anemia, where the red blood cells have insufficient hemoglobin, whereas a high MCHC might indicate spherocytosis or other types of anemia.

The other options describe different parameters: the volume of red blood cells refers to hematocrit, the total number of white blood cells constitutes a leukocyte count, and hemoglobin levels in plasma would pertain to the overall blood hemoglobin concentration, not specific to red blood cells. Hence, the choice highlighting the concentration of hemoglobin within red blood cells precisely aligns with what MCHC measures.