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The 

mean corpuscular hemoglobin, or "mean cell hemoglobin" (MCH), is the average mass
of hemoglobin per red blood cell in a sample of blood.

The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, or MCHC, is a measure of the concentration


of hemoglobin in a given volume of packed red blood cells.

A complete blood count (CBC) is a series of tests used to evaluate the composition and concentration of the cellular
components of blood.
It measures the following:
 The number of red blood cells (RBCs)
 The number of white blood cells (WBCs)
 The total amount of hemoglobin in the blood
 The fraction of the blood composed of red blood cells (hematocrit)
 The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) — the size of the red blood cells
CBC also includes information about the red blood cells that is calculated from the other measurements:
 MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin)
 MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration)
The platelet count is also usually included in the CBC.

Tests for Electrolytes


Typically, tests for electrolytes measure levels of sodium, potassium, chloride, and
bicarbonate in the body.
Sodium plays a major role in regulating the amount of water in the body. Also, the passage
of sodium in and out of cells is necessary for many body functions, like transmitting
electrical signals in the brain and in the muscles. The sodium levels are measured to detect
whether there's the right balance of sodium and liquid in the blood to carry out those
functions.
If a child becomes dehydrated because of vomiting, diarrhea, or inadequate fluid intake, the
sodium levels can be abnormally high or low, which can cause a child to feel confused,
weak, and lethargic, and even to have seizures.
Potassium is essential to regulate how the heart beats. Potassium levels that are too high
or too low can increase the risk of an abnormal heartbeat. Low potassium levels are also
associated with muscle weakness.
Chloride, like sodium, helps maintain a balance of fluids in the body. If there's a large loss
of chloride, the blood may become more acidic and prevent certain chemical reactions from
occurring in the body that are necessary it to keep working properly.
Bicarbonate prevents the body's tissues from getting too much or too little acid. The
kidney and lungs balance the levels of bicarbonate in the body. So if bicarbonate levels are
too high or low, it might indicate a problem with those organs.

Other Substances Measured


Other blood substances measured in the basic blood chemistry test include blood urea
nitrogen and creatinine, which tell how well the kidneys are functioning, and glucose, which
indicates whether there is a normal amount of sugar in the blood.
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) is a measure of how well the kidneys are working. Urea is a
nitrogen-containing waste product that's created when the body breaks down protein. If the
kidneys are not working properly, the levels of BUN will build up in the blood. Dehydration
and excessive bleeding can also elevate the BUN levels in the blood.
Creatinine levels in the blood that are too high can indicate that the kidneys aren't working
properly. The kidneys filter and excrete creatinine; if they're not functioning properly,
creatinine can build up in the bloodstream. Both dehydration and muscle damage also can
raise creatinine levels.
Glucose is the main type of sugar in the blood. It comes from the foods we eat and is the
major source of energy needed to fuel the body's functions. Glucose levels that are too high
or too low can cause problems. The most common cause of high blood glucose levels is
diabetes.

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