MCV

Average volume (size) of red blood cells. Used to classify anemias as microcytic, normocytic, or macrocytic; reflects bone marrow function and key nutrient status (iron, B12, folate).

Also known as:

Mean corpuscular volumeMean cell volume.

MCV ranges

Interpret your result

Normal reference range: 80–100 fL

100

According to OptimalDX, MCV should be between 82 and 89.9:

89.9

Optimal range

Optimal range for MCV appears to be between 82 and 92 fL:

110

Why this optimal range?

Preliminary range is based on functional health organizations including but not limited to those listed above.

What a low value may mean:

Common reasons for low MCV:

Low MCV indicates microcytic red blood cells, most commonly from iron deficiency.

Other causes: thalassemia, sideroblastic anemia, anemia of chronic disease, vitamin B6 or copper deficiency, lead poisoning.

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What a high value may mean:

Common reasons for high MCV:

High MCV indicates macrocytic red blood cells, most commonly from vitamin B12 deficiency (incl. pernicious anemia) or folate deficiency.

Other causes: alcohol use, liver disease, hypothyroidism, hemochromatosis, megaloblastic or myelodysplastic anemia, elevated reticulocytes.

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Possible consequences from high MCV:

For males: increased all-cause and cancer mortality
For MCV ≥95.8 fL in men, the adjusted hazard ratios were 1.44 (95% CI, 1.15-1.80) for all-cause mortality and 1.51 (95% CI, 1.10-2.07) for cancer mortality, compared with the reference group (90.5 fL ≤MCV <93.0 fL). Elevated MCV was associated with liver cancer mortality in men (aHR, 3.55; 95% CI, 1.75-7.21).
For females: all-cause mortality
For MCV ≥94.2 fL in women, the adjusted hazard ratio for all-cause mortality was 1.55 (95% CI, 1.08-2.22), compared with the reference group (89.2 fL ≤MCV <91.6 fL).

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MCV