Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It RevealsHigh MPVLow MPVInfluencing FactorsMPV Test PrepTesting Procedure
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Reveals
High MPV
Low MPV
Influencing Factors
MPV Test Prep
Testing Procedure
If a blood test shows your mean platelet volume (MPV) is low or high, it may need further investigation. The MPV blood test measures the average size of your platelets—the cells responsible for forming blood clots to slow blood loss, prevent infection, and promote healing.
A healthcare professional may want to check your MPV levels if you have symptoms of a bleeding or bone marrow disorder, such as prolonged bleeding or small red/purple spots on the skin. MPV blood test results cannot confirm a diagnosis but are considered alongside other measures to help reach one.
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What Does an MPV Blood Test Tell You?
The MPV blood test measures the average size of your platelets. This measurement, in combination with other testing, is used to diagnose or monitor several blood-related conditions.
When platelets are not functioning as they should, they interfere with hemostasis (stopping of blood flow) and thrombosis (clotting).
Remember that a low or elevated MPV level alone is not diagnostic of any specific health problem.
How MPV Is Written on Your Lab ResultsThe size of your platelets is written with a measurement called femtoliters. A normal MPV is 7.5 to 12 femtoliters.
How MPV Is Written on Your Lab Results
The size of your platelets is written with a measurement called femtoliters. A normal MPV is 7.5 to 12 femtoliters.
Should I Worry About High MPV?
Ahigh MPV (more than 12 femtoliters)is usually a sign that there are more young platelets circulating in your bloodstream.
One reason for this isblood loss due to trauma or a procedure, such as major surgery. In these instances, your body uses up platelets to repair the wound and stop the blood loss. In response, yourbone marrowmakes moremegakaryocytes, cells that become young, large platelets, and your MPV rises.
But blood loss isn’t the only possible cause for high MPV, which is why additional investigation is needed. In particular, MPV results are considered alongsideplatelet count.
A high MPV with the following platelet counts can suggest associated conditions:
A normal platelet count is 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood.
Conditions that may be associated with anelevated MPV and variable platelet countsinclude:
Research studies have found links between elevated MPV and other causes, including:
What Does It Mean When MPV Is Low?
Low MPV levels (less than 8 femtoliters)generally suggest that most of your platelets are older and that your bone marrow has slowed down production of these cells.
Here too, your total platelet count can help provide insight about the cause.
A low MPV with the following platelet counts can suggest related conditions:
Conditions that may be associated with alow MPV and variable platelet countsinclude:
Platelet destruction is common in people diagnosed withHIV/AIDS.Changes to MPV also can occur in people with iron deficiency anemia, or those treated with chemotherapy medications.
MPV as a Cancer BiomarkerMean platelet volume (MPV) is increasingly used as a biomarker in cancer care, includingbreast cancer, lung cancer, thyroid cancer,bladder cancer, andmultiple myeloma. While MPV changes do occur with cancer, study results have been mixed and more research is needed to understand the significance of MPV levels.
MPV as a Cancer Biomarker
Mean platelet volume (MPV) is increasingly used as a biomarker in cancer care, includingbreast cancer, lung cancer, thyroid cancer,bladder cancer, andmultiple myeloma. While MPV changes do occur with cancer, study results have been mixed and more research is needed to understand the significance of MPV levels.
Other Factors That Can Affect MPV Test Results
Information about your health history, lifestyle, and living and working environment should be carefully considered when interpreting MPV results. Be sure to share all information with your healthcare provider.
How to Prepare For Testing
Typically, you don’t have to do anything to prepare for an MPV blood test.
An MPV blood test may be run on its own or as part of acomplete blood count (CBC), which measures MPV and other components of your blood.
If you are having other blood work done at the same time as your MPV test, your healthcare provider may want you tofast(avoid eating or drinking anything but water)for several hours beforehand.
Your healthcare team should let you know if fasting is necessary. If you’re not sure, ask, to avoid the need for re-testing.
What to Expect During Testing
All that’s needed for an MPV test is a sample of your blood. A healthcare professional will use a small needle to draw blood from a vein in your arm into a test tube.
Once the blood is drawn, your provider will place a bandage on your arm. The whole thing usually takes less than five minutes. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in.
The blood is sent to a lab, where your MPV is evaluated. Your healthcare provider will get a report with the results and communicate them to you.
Summary
A mean platelet volume (MPV) test is done using a sample of blood. It shows how big your platelets are. If the cells are smaller than usual, you have a low MPV. If they are larger than usual, this is a high MPV.
Various health conditions and diseases can result in abnormal MPV levels. However, MPV results alone cannot diagnose a disease. To do this, you will need additional testing.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.MPV blood test.Korniluk A, Koper-Lenkiewicz OM, Kamińska J, Kemona H, Dymicka-Piekarska V.Mean platelet volume (MPV): New perspectives for an old marker in the course and prognosis of inflammatory conditions.Mediators Inflamm. 2019 Apr 17;2019:9213074. doi:10.1155/2019/9213074Arshad A, Mukry SN, Shamsi TS.Clinical relevance of extended platelet indices in the diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia.Acta Clin Croat. 2021 Dec;60(4):665-674. doi:10.20471/acc.2021.60.04.14Xu P, Han S, Hou M, Zhao Y, Xu M.The serum lipid profiles in immune thrombocytopenia: Mendelian randomization analysis and a retrospective study.Thromb J. 2023 Oct 13;21(1):107. doi:10.1186/s12959-023-00551-xDetopoulou P, Panoutsopoulos GI, Mantoglou M, Michailidis P, Pantazi I, Papadopoulos S,et al.Relation of mean platelet volume (MPV) with cancer: A systematic review with a focus on disease outcome on twelve types of cancer.Curr Oncol. 2023 Mar 14;30(3):3391-3420. doi:10.3390/curroncol30030258Yan K, Ding B, Huang J, Dai Y, Xiong S, Zhai Z.Normal platelet counts mask abnormal thrombopoiesis in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.Oncol Lett. 2015;10(4):2390–2394. doi:10.3892/ol.2015.3502Johns Hopkins Medicine.What are platelets and why are they important?Bhadra D, Chakraborty S.Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS) with uncontrollable menorrhagia.Asian J Transfus Sci. 2020 Jan-Jun;14(1):93-95. doi:10.4103/ajts.AJTS_61_18Schmoeller D, Picarelli MM, Paz Munhoz T, Poli de Figueiredo CE, Staub HL.Mean platelet volume and immature platelet fraction in autoimmune disorders.Front Med (Lausanne). 2017;4:146. doi:10.3389/fmed.2017.00146Choi DH, Kang SH, Song H.Mean platelet volume: a potential biomarker of the risk and prognosis of heart disease.Korean J Intern Med.2016 Nov;31(6):1009-1017. doi:10.3904/kjim.2016.078. Epub 2016 Oct 24. PMID: 27776204Pogorzelska K, Krętowska A, Krawczuk-Rybak M, Sawicka-Żukowska M.Characteristics of platelet indices and their prognostic significance in selected medical condition - a systematic review.Adv Med Sci. 2020 Sep;65(2):310-315. doi:10.1016/j.advms.2020.05.002Talebzadeh A, Ghaffari H, Ghaffari K, Yazdanpanah S, Yousefi Goltappeh B, Eslami M,et al.The effect of vitamin D deficiency on platelet parameters in patients with COVID-19.Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2024 Mar 8;14:1360075. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2024.1360075Awamura T, Nakasone ES, Gangcuangco LM, Subia NT, Bali AJ, Chow DC, Shikuma CM, Park J.Platelet and HIV interactions and their contribution to non-AIDS comorbidities.Biomolecules. 2023 Nov 2;13(11):1608. doi:10.3390/biom13111608Prabhakar A, Chatterjee T, Bajaj N, Tyagi T, Sahu A, Gupta N,et al.Venous thrombosis at altitude presents with distinct biochemical profiles: a comparative study from the Himalayas to the plains.Blood Adv. 2019 Nov 26;3(22):3713-3723. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2018024554Algahtani FH, AlQahtany FS, Al-Shehri A, Abdelgader AM.Features and incidence of thromboembolic disease: A comparative study between high and low altitude dwellers in Saudi Arabia.Saudi J Biol Sci.2020 Jun;27(6):1632-1636. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.03.004.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.MPV blood test.Korniluk A, Koper-Lenkiewicz OM, Kamińska J, Kemona H, Dymicka-Piekarska V.Mean platelet volume (MPV): New perspectives for an old marker in the course and prognosis of inflammatory conditions.Mediators Inflamm. 2019 Apr 17;2019:9213074. doi:10.1155/2019/9213074Arshad A, Mukry SN, Shamsi TS.Clinical relevance of extended platelet indices in the diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia.Acta Clin Croat. 2021 Dec;60(4):665-674. doi:10.20471/acc.2021.60.04.14Xu P, Han S, Hou M, Zhao Y, Xu M.The serum lipid profiles in immune thrombocytopenia: Mendelian randomization analysis and a retrospective study.Thromb J. 2023 Oct 13;21(1):107. doi:10.1186/s12959-023-00551-xDetopoulou P, Panoutsopoulos GI, Mantoglou M, Michailidis P, Pantazi I, Papadopoulos S,et al.Relation of mean platelet volume (MPV) with cancer: A systematic review with a focus on disease outcome on twelve types of cancer.Curr Oncol. 2023 Mar 14;30(3):3391-3420. doi:10.3390/curroncol30030258Yan K, Ding B, Huang J, Dai Y, Xiong S, Zhai Z.Normal platelet counts mask abnormal thrombopoiesis in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.Oncol Lett. 2015;10(4):2390–2394. doi:10.3892/ol.2015.3502Johns Hopkins Medicine.What are platelets and why are they important?Bhadra D, Chakraborty S.Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS) with uncontrollable menorrhagia.Asian J Transfus Sci. 2020 Jan-Jun;14(1):93-95. doi:10.4103/ajts.AJTS_61_18Schmoeller D, Picarelli MM, Paz Munhoz T, Poli de Figueiredo CE, Staub HL.Mean platelet volume and immature platelet fraction in autoimmune disorders.Front Med (Lausanne). 2017;4:146. doi:10.3389/fmed.2017.00146Choi DH, Kang SH, Song H.Mean platelet volume: a potential biomarker of the risk and prognosis of heart disease.Korean J Intern Med.2016 Nov;31(6):1009-1017. doi:10.3904/kjim.2016.078. Epub 2016 Oct 24. PMID: 27776204Pogorzelska K, Krętowska A, Krawczuk-Rybak M, Sawicka-Żukowska M.Characteristics of platelet indices and their prognostic significance in selected medical condition - a systematic review.Adv Med Sci. 2020 Sep;65(2):310-315. doi:10.1016/j.advms.2020.05.002Talebzadeh A, Ghaffari H, Ghaffari K, Yazdanpanah S, Yousefi Goltappeh B, Eslami M,et al.The effect of vitamin D deficiency on platelet parameters in patients with COVID-19.Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2024 Mar 8;14:1360075. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2024.1360075Awamura T, Nakasone ES, Gangcuangco LM, Subia NT, Bali AJ, Chow DC, Shikuma CM, Park J.Platelet and HIV interactions and their contribution to non-AIDS comorbidities.Biomolecules. 2023 Nov 2;13(11):1608. doi:10.3390/biom13111608Prabhakar A, Chatterjee T, Bajaj N, Tyagi T, Sahu A, Gupta N,et al.Venous thrombosis at altitude presents with distinct biochemical profiles: a comparative study from the Himalayas to the plains.Blood Adv. 2019 Nov 26;3(22):3713-3723. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2018024554Algahtani FH, AlQahtany FS, Al-Shehri A, Abdelgader AM.Features and incidence of thromboembolic disease: A comparative study between high and low altitude dwellers in Saudi Arabia.Saudi J Biol Sci.2020 Jun;27(6):1632-1636. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.03.004.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.MPV blood test.Korniluk A, Koper-Lenkiewicz OM, Kamińska J, Kemona H, Dymicka-Piekarska V.Mean platelet volume (MPV): New perspectives for an old marker in the course and prognosis of inflammatory conditions.Mediators Inflamm. 2019 Apr 17;2019:9213074. doi:10.1155/2019/9213074Arshad A, Mukry SN, Shamsi TS.Clinical relevance of extended platelet indices in the diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia.Acta Clin Croat. 2021 Dec;60(4):665-674. doi:10.20471/acc.2021.60.04.14Xu P, Han S, Hou M, Zhao Y, Xu M.The serum lipid profiles in immune thrombocytopenia: Mendelian randomization analysis and a retrospective study.Thromb J. 2023 Oct 13;21(1):107. doi:10.1186/s12959-023-00551-xDetopoulou P, Panoutsopoulos GI, Mantoglou M, Michailidis P, Pantazi I, Papadopoulos S,et al.Relation of mean platelet volume (MPV) with cancer: A systematic review with a focus on disease outcome on twelve types of cancer.Curr Oncol. 2023 Mar 14;30(3):3391-3420. doi:10.3390/curroncol30030258Yan K, Ding B, Huang J, Dai Y, Xiong S, Zhai Z.Normal platelet counts mask abnormal thrombopoiesis in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.Oncol Lett. 2015;10(4):2390–2394. doi:10.3892/ol.2015.3502Johns Hopkins Medicine.What are platelets and why are they important?Bhadra D, Chakraborty S.Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS) with uncontrollable menorrhagia.Asian J Transfus Sci. 2020 Jan-Jun;14(1):93-95. doi:10.4103/ajts.AJTS_61_18Schmoeller D, Picarelli MM, Paz Munhoz T, Poli de Figueiredo CE, Staub HL.Mean platelet volume and immature platelet fraction in autoimmune disorders.Front Med (Lausanne). 2017;4:146. doi:10.3389/fmed.2017.00146Choi DH, Kang SH, Song H.Mean platelet volume: a potential biomarker of the risk and prognosis of heart disease.Korean J Intern Med.2016 Nov;31(6):1009-1017. doi:10.3904/kjim.2016.078. Epub 2016 Oct 24. PMID: 27776204Pogorzelska K, Krętowska A, Krawczuk-Rybak M, Sawicka-Żukowska M.Characteristics of platelet indices and their prognostic significance in selected medical condition - a systematic review.Adv Med Sci. 2020 Sep;65(2):310-315. doi:10.1016/j.advms.2020.05.002Talebzadeh A, Ghaffari H, Ghaffari K, Yazdanpanah S, Yousefi Goltappeh B, Eslami M,et al.The effect of vitamin D deficiency on platelet parameters in patients with COVID-19.Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2024 Mar 8;14:1360075. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2024.1360075Awamura T, Nakasone ES, Gangcuangco LM, Subia NT, Bali AJ, Chow DC, Shikuma CM, Park J.Platelet and HIV interactions and their contribution to non-AIDS comorbidities.Biomolecules. 2023 Nov 2;13(11):1608. doi:10.3390/biom13111608Prabhakar A, Chatterjee T, Bajaj N, Tyagi T, Sahu A, Gupta N,et al.Venous thrombosis at altitude presents with distinct biochemical profiles: a comparative study from the Himalayas to the plains.Blood Adv. 2019 Nov 26;3(22):3713-3723. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2018024554Algahtani FH, AlQahtany FS, Al-Shehri A, Abdelgader AM.Features and incidence of thromboembolic disease: A comparative study between high and low altitude dwellers in Saudi Arabia.Saudi J Biol Sci.2020 Jun;27(6):1632-1636. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.03.004.
MedlinePlus.MPV blood test.
Korniluk A, Koper-Lenkiewicz OM, Kamińska J, Kemona H, Dymicka-Piekarska V.Mean platelet volume (MPV): New perspectives for an old marker in the course and prognosis of inflammatory conditions.Mediators Inflamm. 2019 Apr 17;2019:9213074. doi:10.1155/2019/9213074
Arshad A, Mukry SN, Shamsi TS.Clinical relevance of extended platelet indices in the diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia.Acta Clin Croat. 2021 Dec;60(4):665-674. doi:10.20471/acc.2021.60.04.14
Xu P, Han S, Hou M, Zhao Y, Xu M.The serum lipid profiles in immune thrombocytopenia: Mendelian randomization analysis and a retrospective study.Thromb J. 2023 Oct 13;21(1):107. doi:10.1186/s12959-023-00551-x
Detopoulou P, Panoutsopoulos GI, Mantoglou M, Michailidis P, Pantazi I, Papadopoulos S,et al.Relation of mean platelet volume (MPV) with cancer: A systematic review with a focus on disease outcome on twelve types of cancer.Curr Oncol. 2023 Mar 14;30(3):3391-3420. doi:10.3390/curroncol30030258
Yan K, Ding B, Huang J, Dai Y, Xiong S, Zhai Z.Normal platelet counts mask abnormal thrombopoiesis in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.Oncol Lett. 2015;10(4):2390–2394. doi:10.3892/ol.2015.3502
Johns Hopkins Medicine.What are platelets and why are they important?
Bhadra D, Chakraborty S.Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS) with uncontrollable menorrhagia.Asian J Transfus Sci. 2020 Jan-Jun;14(1):93-95. doi:10.4103/ajts.AJTS_61_18
Schmoeller D, Picarelli MM, Paz Munhoz T, Poli de Figueiredo CE, Staub HL.Mean platelet volume and immature platelet fraction in autoimmune disorders.Front Med (Lausanne). 2017;4:146. doi:10.3389/fmed.2017.00146
Choi DH, Kang SH, Song H.Mean platelet volume: a potential biomarker of the risk and prognosis of heart disease.Korean J Intern Med.2016 Nov;31(6):1009-1017. doi:10.3904/kjim.2016.078. Epub 2016 Oct 24. PMID: 27776204
Pogorzelska K, Krętowska A, Krawczuk-Rybak M, Sawicka-Żukowska M.Characteristics of platelet indices and their prognostic significance in selected medical condition - a systematic review.Adv Med Sci. 2020 Sep;65(2):310-315. doi:10.1016/j.advms.2020.05.002
Talebzadeh A, Ghaffari H, Ghaffari K, Yazdanpanah S, Yousefi Goltappeh B, Eslami M,et al.The effect of vitamin D deficiency on platelet parameters in patients with COVID-19.Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2024 Mar 8;14:1360075. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2024.1360075
Awamura T, Nakasone ES, Gangcuangco LM, Subia NT, Bali AJ, Chow DC, Shikuma CM, Park J.Platelet and HIV interactions and their contribution to non-AIDS comorbidities.Biomolecules. 2023 Nov 2;13(11):1608. doi:10.3390/biom13111608
Prabhakar A, Chatterjee T, Bajaj N, Tyagi T, Sahu A, Gupta N,et al.Venous thrombosis at altitude presents with distinct biochemical profiles: a comparative study from the Himalayas to the plains.Blood Adv. 2019 Nov 26;3(22):3713-3723. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2018024554
Algahtani FH, AlQahtany FS, Al-Shehri A, Abdelgader AM.Features and incidence of thromboembolic disease: A comparative study between high and low altitude dwellers in Saudi Arabia.Saudi J Biol Sci.2020 Jun;27(6):1632-1636. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.03.004.
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