What is the reference range for the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration?

The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is a measure that indicates the average concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of packed red blood cells. It provides insight into the hemoglobin content relative to the red blood cell volume, which is important for diagnosing different types of anemia and other blood disorders.

The reference range for MCHC typically lies between 32% and 36%. This range signifies that, on average, a healthy individual's red blood cells contain an adequate amount of hemoglobin. Values falling outside this reference can suggest various conditions: for instance, a value below the range may indicate hypochromic anemia, where the red blood cells have less hemoglobin than normal, while values above the range might suggest conditions like spherocytosis, where the cells are more packed with hemoglobin.

In summary, the range of 32%-36% is the established reference interval for MCHC in clinical practice, confirming that answer choice B is appropriate.