MCV indicates the average red blood cell size and volume. Doctors use these measurements when diagnosing specific types of anemia, as well as other health conditions. Learn more about MCH levels in blood tests here. During an MCV blood test, a doctor draws blood from a vein to collect a sample. While the doctor is taking the blood sample, a person may feel a little pain and a stinging sensation. Drawing blood carries few risks. However, everyone is different, and sometimes blood collection is more straightforward in some people than in others.
These symptoms indicate conditions that affect the size of red blood cells, making them smaller or larger than usual. When red blood cells are smaller than expected, a person likely has microcytic anemia. If they are larger, a person may have macrocytic anemia. A typical adult MCV level is 80— femtoliters fl. Specific levels for different ages and sexes include:. MCV results may differ among labs, so people should not worry if their reading is slightly above or below these ranges.
When a person has an MCV level below 80 fl , this suggests they have microcytic anemia. Microcytic anemia is a type of anemia in which red blood cells are smaller than usual. Iron deficiency causes microcytic anemia.
A person usually develops an iron deficiency due to an underlying health condition or factors such as diet and medications. Thalassemia is a condition where the body does not make enough normal hemoglobin. It is a genetic condition that a person inherits from their parents. Thalassemia can range from mild to severe. If a person has mild thalassemia, they may have mild anemia or not present with any signs or symptoms.
If someone has severe thalassemia, they may require regular red blood cell transfusions. If someone has a high MCV level, their red blood cells are larger than usual, and they have macrocytic anemia. Macrocytosis occurs in people with an MCV level higher than fl. Megaloblastic anemia is a type of macrocytic anemia. Deficiencies in cobalamin vitamin B12 and folate vitamin B9 are the most common causes of megaloblastic anemia.
Doctor consultation is also available for further treatment or for any kind of medical advice. Book Now. Many health insurance policies in the U. If your physician recommends you to take the Complete Blood Count test more than twice in a year, you may have to pay the medical bill out of pocket. Also, the coverage offered by private health insurance policies and national health insurance programs varies widely. So we recommend you to check with your insurance company.
Our CBC testing providers do not accept any health insurance. But, on request, they can provide you with a receipt containing all the details like the name and code of the test, and CPT code which is necessary for insurance reimbursement purposes.
In your blood, the blood cells are categorized into three main categories, they are —. Red blood cells are the prime transporting material for sending oxygen from your lungs to every cell in your body.
Your body requires oxygen to function properly without any health issues and stay healthy. If your red blood cells are not in their original form, being too small or too large, they might be a sign of a blood disorder such as anemia, a vitamin deficiency, or other medical condition.
MCV helps in diagnosing different types of anemia and health conditions. MCV value indicates the average size of red blood cells erythrocytes in your blood. Your physician will order this CBC test, which includes the MCV analysis if you experience any of the following symptoms —. However, your physician will look in particular for the MCV values for certain medical conditions, such as —.
During this test, a lab technician or a phlebotomist will cleanse the skin with an antiseptic and place an elastic band around the upper arm so that the vein becomes visible and swells with blood. After the blood is drawn, he covers the injected area with a band-aid to stop bleeding.
The typical blood specimen is then sent to the lab for analysis. It takes less than 10 minutes to perform this test. There is no special preparation required for the Complete Blood Count test. But if the blood sample is going to be used for other tests, you may have to fast for a certain period. Your concerned physician will give you specific instructions on diet. There is no possible risk or complication in taking the CBC test.
You might have slight pain or bruise in the injected area for a very little period. MCV values are measured by calculating a formula, in which — hematocrit is multiplied by ten and divided by the RBC count measured in millions of cells per cubic millimeter of blood.
In simple terms,. Usually, a healthy adult should show an MCV value between 80 to 96 femtoliters per cell. Note that each number in parentheses [1, 2, 3, etc. Mean corpuscular volume MCV measures the size of your red blood cells. It can be used to help diagnose blood disorders, such as anemia. Keep reading to learn more about the causes of low and high MCV and how to address them.
Mean corpuscular volume MCV is the average size volume of the red blood cells in your body. It is normally measured as part of a complete blood count , which measures your hemoglobin , hematocrit , and red blood cell levels [ 1 ]. Along with the red cell distribution width RDW test, MCV is used to diagnose many diseases, including anemia, thalassemia , liver disease, and iron deficiency [ 1 ]. The normal range of MCV is around 80 — 94 fl [ 1 ].
However, what your labs report as a normal range may differ slightly. Some lab-to-lab variability can happen due to differences in equipment, techniques, and chemicals used. There are anemias in which red blood cell size is normal normocytic anemia [ 2 ].
Your doctor will interpret your results in conjunction with your medical history and other test results. An MCV below normal means that your red blood cells are smaller than normal microcytic. Microcytosis is usually a result of the inability to form hemoglobin, which is a protein that is responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood [ 1 , 3 ]. However, a result that is slightly lower may not be of medical significance, as this test often varies from day to day and from person to person.
Your doctor will interpret this result, taking into account your medical history and other tests, such as RBC, hemoglobin, and other red blood cell indices. Microcytosis patients usually do not show any symptoms, unless their anemia is severe. Other complete blood count tests can help determine the cause of microcytosis, such as RDW and iron markers [ 4 ].
Causes shown below are commonly associated with low MCV. Work with your doctor or other health care professional to get an accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause. The most common cause of low MCV is iron deficiency anemia. Without enough iron in the body, red blood cells cannot make hemoglobin, and this results in a smaller red blood cell size [ 3 , 5 ]. In a study of patients, the main cause of their low MCV microcytosis was iron deficiency.
In addition, MCV in the study correlated with the severity of the underlying iron deficiency [ 6 ]. Iron deficiency can be due to dietary causes, or conditions that impair nutrient absorption such as celiac disease. Anemia of chronic disease is the most common cause of anemia after iron deficiency anemia.
0コメント