American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Practice Test

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What is the normal range for Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) in picograms?

  1. 22-26 pg

  2. 28-34 pg

  3. 30-36 pg

  4. 34-40 pg

The correct answer is: 28-34 pg

The normal range for Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) is indeed 28-34 picograms per cell. MCH reflects the average amount of hemoglobin per red blood cell and is an important marker in assessing the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood. When interpreting MCH values, it's crucial to recognize that this range is established based on values typically found in healthy populations and provides insight into overall red blood cell function. Values falling below this range may indicate conditions such as iron deficiency anemia or thalassemia, where there's a lack of adequate hemoglobin production, while values above the range may suggest conditions like macrocytic anemia, where the red blood cells are larger than normal. Understanding these implications can help in the diagnostics and management of various hematological conditions.