Red Cell Characteristics Related to Color

Hypochromia and Hyperchromia defined

  • A decreased amount of hemoglobin is referred to as hypochromasia or hypochromia. MCHC values of 30% or less reflect this condition. Hyperchromasia and hyperchromia, refer to a hypothetical situation rather than an actual occurrence. The word, hyperchromia/sia, means increase in color; however the MCHC value cannot be higher than 36, since it is impossible for a cell to contain "too much" hemoglobin.
  • Cells located in the "too thin" portion of the smear often appear to be "hyperchromic". Megalocytes (macrocytes), which appear to have increased amounts of hemoglobin, have an MCHC value within normal limits, indicating that the cells, although larger than normal, are normochromic.

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