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Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Cell Volume

January 30, 2023HematologyLab Tests

Table of Contents

  • Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
      • Sample for Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
      • Indications for Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
      • Definition of Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
      • Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) facts
      • NORMAL Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
      • Increased Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV):
      • Macrocytic anemia:
      • Decreased Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV):
      • Microcytic anemias are seen in:
      • Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) increased in:
      • Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) decreased in:
      • Questions and answers:

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)

Sample for Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)

  1. The best sample is EDTA blood.
  2. Stable for 6 hours at 25 °C  and 24 hours at 4 °C.
  3. Fetal blood is collected percutaneous from the umbilical area.

Indications for Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)

  1. This is one of the blood indices.
  2. This is done to classify and diagnose anemia.
  3. It is a useful screening test for occult alcoholism.

Definition of Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)

  • It represents an average measurement of RBC volume varying from 82 to 98 fL.
  • Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) is manually calculated as hematocrit divided by RBC count.
  • It can be measured directly by the automated instrument.

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) facts

  1. Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) measures the average volume or size of a single RBC.
  2. MCV indicates the volume occupied by a single RBC and is measured in a cubic micrometer of the mean volume.
    1. Cubic micrometer = femtoliter ( fL ).
  3. MCV helps to classify various anemias.
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV): MCV formula and calculation

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV): MCV formula and calculation

  • Macrocytic RBC:
    • When the RBC size is larger than normal, more than 100 fL.
  • Microcytic RBC:
    • When the RBC size is small than normal, less than 82 fL.

NORMAL Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)

Source 1

Age fL
Fetal blood
18 to 20 weeks 133.9 ± 8.8
21 to 22 weeks 130.1 ± 6.2
23 to 25 weeks 126.2 ± 6.2
26 to 30 weeks 118.2 ± 5.8
Infants and Child
Cord blood 98 to 118
0.5 month 88 to 140
0ne month 91 to 112
2 month 84 to 106
4 month 76 to 97
6 month 68 to 85
9 month 70 to 85
12 month 71 to 84
0.5 to 2 year 70 to 84
2 to 5 year 73 to 85
5 to 9 year 75 to 87
9 to 12 year 76 to 90
Male  Female
12 to 14 year 77 to 94 73 to 95
15 to 17 year 79 to 95 78 to 98
18 to 44 year 80 to 99 81 to 100
45 to 64 year 81 to 101 81 to 101
65 to 74 year 81to 103 81 to 102

Source 2

  • Adult = 80 to 95 fL.
  • Newborn = 96 to 108 fL

Increased Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV):

Macrocytic anemia:

  1. B12 or folic acid deficiency :
    1. Decreased ingestion.
      1. Laking animal protein.
      2. Vegetarians.
    2. Impaired absorption.
      1. Intrinsic factor deficiency.
      2. Abnormal intrinsic factor molecule.
      3. Patient with partial or total gastrectomy.
      4. Ileal resection.
      5. Sprue.
      6. Celiac disease.
      7. Intestinal lymphoma.
      8. Drug-induced malabsorption.
  2. Parasitic infestation.
    1. Diphyllobothrium latum.
    2. Infected diverticula.
    3. Blind loop.
  3. Increased requirement.
    1. Pregnancy.
    2. Malignancies.
    3. Hyperthyroidism.
    4. Chronic pancreatic disease.
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV): Macrocytic RBCs and hypersegmented polys.

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV): Macrocytic RBCs and hypersegmented polys.

Decreased Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV):

Microcytic anemias are seen in:

  1. Iron metabolism-related.
    1. Iron deficiency anemia.
    2. Decreased dietary intake.
    3. Malabsorption.
    4. Increased iron loss.
    5. Increased body requirements for iron.
    6. Congenital hypochromic microcytic anemia.
    7. Anemias of chronic diseases.
  2. A defect in heme synthesis.
    1. Idiopathic refractory sideroblastic anemia.
    2. Acquired sideroblastic anemia.
    3. Hereditary sideroblastic anemia.
    4. Autosomal anemia ( X chromosome-linked ).
  3. Disorder of globin synthesis.
    1. Thalassemia.
    2. Hemoglobinopathies.

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) increased in:

  1. Pernicious anemia (vit.B12 deficiency).
  2. Folic acid deficiency.
  3. Liver diseases.
  4. Alcoholism.
  5. Antimetabolic therapy.

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) decreased in:

  1. Thalassemia.
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV): Anemia hypochromic microcytic

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV): Anemia hypochromic microcytic

  1. Iron deficiency anemia.
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV): Anemia Microcytosis

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV): Anemia Microcytosis

Questions and answers:

Question 1: What is the MCV for microcytes?
Show answer
Microcytes MCV is <82 fL.
Question 2: What is MCV of the macrocytes?
Show answer
Macrocytes MCV is >100 fL.

Possible References Used
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