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Description

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is a measure of the average size of red blood cells (RBCs) in a sample of blood. It is obtained from a complete blood count (CBC) test, which is a routine blood test used to measure the number and types of cells in the blood.

To obtain the MCV, a sample of the patient's whole blood is taken and placed in a special machine called a hematology analyzer. The analyzer measures the size of the RBCs and calculates the average size, which is the MCV. The MCV is then reported as part of the CBC results.

Synonyms

• erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume
• MCV

Some Diseases Associated with an Abnormal Mean Corpuscular Volume

• normal pregnancy
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• heart valve disorder
• chronic liver disease
• hypothyroidism
• congestive heart failure
• iron deficiency anemia
• chronic kidney disease
• chronic-disease anemia
• diffuse connective tissue disease

Detailed Laboratory Testing Information (use the custom search buttons below to find details on these topics)

All of the following must be considered when interpreting clinical findings and are too extensive to be covered on this site: