Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPurposeIndicationsResultsMeaning of Low MCVMeaning of High MCVMeaning of a Normal MCV
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Purpose
Indications
Results
Meaning of Low MCV
Meaning of High MCV
Meaning of a Normal MCV
A mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is a type of blood test that measures the size of your red blood cells. It is included in a routine panel of tests called acomplete blood count (CBC). For adults, MCV levels normally fall between 80 and 100 femtoliters (fl).
Red blood cells carry oxygen through your body. A low MCV means that your red blood cells are smaller than average, possibly indicatingiron deficiency anemia. A high MCV means your red blood cells are larger than average, which could indicate liver disease or a vitamin deficiency.
The interpretation relies heavily on other blood test results in the CBC. An abnormal MCV may suggest a health issue but cannot diagnose any condition on its own.
Purpose of an MCV Blood Test
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is used to measure the average size of red blood cells (also known aserythrocytes). The termcorpuscledescribes a living cell, such as a red blood cell.
The calculation can be mathematically described as follows:
MCV = (HCT % x 10) ÷ RBC
The MCV test is not used alone but interpreted along with other tests in the CBC. When interpreted as such, the MCV test can be useful for:
The MCV can also change with certain diseases and may be useful for diagnosing or monitoring conditions that cause a change in red blood cell volume. This includes liver disease, chronic kidney disease, and certain vitamin deficiencies.
Who Needs an MCV Test?
The CBC is a routine blood test performed during a medical check-up to see if there are any problems with the composition or concentration of your blood cells. The MCV is one of many tests used to assess your general health.
However, the MCV can also be used if you havesigns and symptoms of anemia, such as:
What Is a Normal MCV?
A normal MCV in adults ranges from 80 to 100 fl.Even so, levels can vary based on sex and age and tend to rise as people get older.
What a Low MCV Means
A low MCV means that your red blood cell volume is under 80 fl. Also referred to asmicrocytosis, this is characteristic of certain medical conditions, such as:
What a High MCV Means
A high MCV means your red blood cells have a volume greater than 100 fl. The increased cellular volume may be due to conditions that cause the increased destruction of red blood cells, known ashemolysis.
To compensate for the loss, the bone marrow will start to churn out larger red blood cells, which have decreased function. This is known asmacrocytosis.
Conditions associated with macrocytosis include:
The Different Types of Anemia
What a Normal MCV Means
A normal MCV result can mean just that: that everything is perfectly normal. But it could also indicate a medical problem if other tests in the CBC are abnormal.
Normocytic anemia is a type of anemia in which red blood cells are of normal size and composition but are simply too few in number to deliver oxygen efficiently.
Iron deficiency anemia, anemia of chronic disease, and lead poisoning can all start as normocytic anemia but, over time, transform into microcytic anemia as more organ systems that contribute to erythropoiesis are affected.
Normocytic anemia can also occur with conditions like:
Summary
MCV is useful for evaluating anemia and some other medical conditions. But it is not usually looked at alone. Instead, your healthcare provider will consider MCV alongside other things in a CBC to get a complete picture. In addition to anemia, MCV outside of an expected range can suggest lead poisoning, vitamin deficiency, or liver disease.
7 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.MCV (mean corpuscular volume).Hsieh YP, Chang CC, Kor CT, Yang Y, Wen YK, Chiu PF.Mean corpuscular volume and mortality in patients with CKD.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2017;12(2):237–244. doi:10.2215/CJN.00970116American Society of Hematology.Iron-deficiency anemia.Lee JY, Choi H, Park JW, Son BR, Park JH, Jang LC, Lee JG.Age-related changes in mean corpuscular volumes in patients without anaemia: An analysis of large-volume data from a single institute.J Cell Mol Med. 2022;26(12):3548–56. doi:10.1111/jcmm.17397Rampon K.Anemia: microcytic anemia.FP Essent.2023 Jul:530:12-16.Nagao T, Hirokawa M.Diagnosis and treatment of macrocytic anemias in adults.J Gen Fam Med.2017;18(5):200-204. doi:10.1002/jgf2.31Sommer M.Anemia: normocytic anemia.FP Essent.2023 Jul:530:22-33.
7 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.MCV (mean corpuscular volume).Hsieh YP, Chang CC, Kor CT, Yang Y, Wen YK, Chiu PF.Mean corpuscular volume and mortality in patients with CKD.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2017;12(2):237–244. doi:10.2215/CJN.00970116American Society of Hematology.Iron-deficiency anemia.Lee JY, Choi H, Park JW, Son BR, Park JH, Jang LC, Lee JG.Age-related changes in mean corpuscular volumes in patients without anaemia: An analysis of large-volume data from a single institute.J Cell Mol Med. 2022;26(12):3548–56. doi:10.1111/jcmm.17397Rampon K.Anemia: microcytic anemia.FP Essent.2023 Jul:530:12-16.Nagao T, Hirokawa M.Diagnosis and treatment of macrocytic anemias in adults.J Gen Fam Med.2017;18(5):200-204. doi:10.1002/jgf2.31Sommer M.Anemia: normocytic anemia.FP Essent.2023 Jul:530:22-33.
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.MCV (mean corpuscular volume).Hsieh YP, Chang CC, Kor CT, Yang Y, Wen YK, Chiu PF.Mean corpuscular volume and mortality in patients with CKD.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2017;12(2):237–244. doi:10.2215/CJN.00970116American Society of Hematology.Iron-deficiency anemia.Lee JY, Choi H, Park JW, Son BR, Park JH, Jang LC, Lee JG.Age-related changes in mean corpuscular volumes in patients without anaemia: An analysis of large-volume data from a single institute.J Cell Mol Med. 2022;26(12):3548–56. doi:10.1111/jcmm.17397Rampon K.Anemia: microcytic anemia.FP Essent.2023 Jul:530:12-16.Nagao T, Hirokawa M.Diagnosis and treatment of macrocytic anemias in adults.J Gen Fam Med.2017;18(5):200-204. doi:10.1002/jgf2.31Sommer M.Anemia: normocytic anemia.FP Essent.2023 Jul:530:22-33.
MedlinePlus.MCV (mean corpuscular volume).
Hsieh YP, Chang CC, Kor CT, Yang Y, Wen YK, Chiu PF.Mean corpuscular volume and mortality in patients with CKD.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2017;12(2):237–244. doi:10.2215/CJN.00970116
American Society of Hematology.Iron-deficiency anemia.
Lee JY, Choi H, Park JW, Son BR, Park JH, Jang LC, Lee JG.Age-related changes in mean corpuscular volumes in patients without anaemia: An analysis of large-volume data from a single institute.J Cell Mol Med. 2022;26(12):3548–56. doi:10.1111/jcmm.17397
Rampon K.Anemia: microcytic anemia.FP Essent.2023 Jul:530:12-16.
Nagao T, Hirokawa M.Diagnosis and treatment of macrocytic anemias in adults.J Gen Fam Med.2017;18(5):200-204. doi:10.1002/jgf2.31
Sommer M.Anemia: normocytic anemia.FP Essent.2023 Jul:530:22-33.
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