MCH
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Mean corpuscular hemoglobin |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical, Education & Academia |
| Also written | MCh |
MCH has two meanings. It stands for Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (laboratory test) or Magister Chirurgiae (Master of Surgery) (degree).
Meanings of MCH at a glance
| # | MCH stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mean corpuscular hemoglobin | Medical › Laboratory Test |
| 2 | Magister Chirurgiae (Master of Surgery) | Education & Academia › Degree |
1. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
Medical · Laboratory Test Abbreviations
Average mass of hemoglobin inside each red cell, about 27 to 33 picograms in adults. Calculated by dividing hemoglobin by the red cell count, it generally tracks the MCV: smaller cells carry less hemoglobin, so a low MCH accompanies iron deficiency and thalassemia.
Example: Low MCH and MCV with a normal RDW raised suspicion for thalassemia trait.
MCH adds little beyond the MCV in most cases, but it is less affected by sample storage, which slowly swells red cells. Every automated CBC reports it. It should not be confused with the MCHC, which expresses hemoglobin concentration in packed cells rather than the amount per cell.
2. Magister Chirurgiae (Master of Surgery) (MCh)
Education & Academia · Degree Abbreviations
Super-specialty surgical degree in India, taken after an MS in general surgery, in fields such as neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery, urology and pediatric surgery. It typically takes three years and is the surgical counterpart of the DM.
Example: The hospital's new neurosurgeon holds an MBBS, MS and MCh from PGIMER Chandigarh.
Written M.Ch. Admission in India is through the NEET-SS exam. In the UK and Ireland, MCh is also used by some universities for a research master's in surgery, a different credential. Indian specialists list degrees in sequence, as in "MBBS, MS, MCh".
Related abbreviations
More laboratory test abbreviations
- LE – Leukocyte esterase
- LFT – Liver function tests
- LIS – Laboratory information system
- Lytes – Electrolytes
- MCHC – Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
- MCV – Mean corpuscular volume
- Mg – Magnesium
- MPV – Mean platelet volume
See all 135 laboratory test abbreviations →
More degree abbreviations
- MArch – Master of Architecture
- MAT – Master of Arts in Teaching
- MBA – Master of Business Administration
- MBBS – Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
- MCP – Master of City Planning
- MD – Doctor of Medicine
- MD-PhD – Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy
- MDiv – Master of Divinity
See all 139 degree abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.