Skip to content
Learn · Red Cells & Oxygen

Red Cell Indices

Measured in MCV fL · MCH pg · MCHC g/dL

The size and hemoglobin content of your average red blood cell. These are what tell your clinician why a blood count is off, not just that it is.

What the numbers mean

These are the ranges BioForge works to. They are not the same as a lab's reference range, which is built from the general population rather than from people who feel well.

Low
MCV <79 · MCH <26.6 · MCHC <31.5
Optimal
MCV 85–92 · MCH 28–32 · MCHC 32–35
High
MCV >97 · MCH >33.0 · MCHC >35.7

What moves Red Cell Indices

Small cells usually mean iron deficiency or chronic blood loss — relevant if you are donating blood to manage hematocrit. Large cells usually mean low B12 or folate, alcohol, or an underactive thyroid. Rising MCV on therapy with phlebotomy is worth checking against ferritin.

Related markers in Red Cells & Oxygen

This page is educational and is not medical advice. Ranges are general and do not account for your history, medications or symptoms — a single number never decides a protocol. Your results are interpreted by a licensed clinician alongside everything else about you. Back to the Learning Center

Results Start Here

Want to know where your numbers actually sit?

Every BioForge protocol starts from your own bloodwork. The first 15-to-30-minute call is free.

Get Started Rather learn more first? Let's talk.