About Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) is a measure of the average volume of a red blood cell. It is calculated by dividing the total volume of red blood cells by the number of red blood cells. MCV is used to classify anemias as microcytic, normocytic, or macrocytic, which can provide insight into the underlying cause of anemia.
Reference Values
Optimal Range
80.0 - 100.0 fL
Women's Optimal Range
80.0 - 100.0 fL
Elite Value
Not specified
Health Implications
High
Elevated levels may indicate macrocytic anemia, which can be caused by vitamin B12 or folate deficiencies, and may be associated with liver diseases or hypothyroidism.
Low
Low levels may be associated with microcytic anemia, often due to iron deficiency, and could also indicate thalassemia or lead poisoning.
Symptoms
High
May include fatigue, jaundice, shortness of breath, headache, and enlarged spleen.
Low
Can include dizziness, weakness, pale or jaundiced skin, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
Lifestyle Factors
Specimen Type
Testing Methods
Also Known As
Scientific Sources
- Goldberg I, Cohen E, Gafter-Gvili A, et al. (2023). A Longitudinal Assessment of the Natural Change in Haemoglobin, Haematocrit, and Mean Corpuscular Volume with Age. Acta Haematologica, 146(3), 206–213.
- Dratch A, Kleine C-E, Streja E, et al. (2019). Mean Corpuscular Volume and Mortality in Incident Hemodialysis Patients. Nephron, 141(3), 188–200.
- Hsieh Y-P, Chang C-C, Kor C-T, et al. (2017). Mean Corpuscular Volume and Mortality in Patients with CKD. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 12(2), 237–244.
- Master Textbook of Internal Medicine. (2022). Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) - Complete Blood Count (CBC). Retrieved from
- ienceDirect Topics. (n.d.). Mean Corpuscular Volume - an overview. Retrieved from