MCV

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is the average volume of red cells in a specimen. MCV is elevated or decreased in accordance with average red cell size; ie, low MCV indicates microcytic (small average RBC size), normal MCV indicates normocytic (normal average RBC size), and high MCV indicates macrocytic (large average RBC size). The reference range for MCV is 80-96 fL/red cell in adult. 1 Reference ranges may vary depending on the individual laboratory and patient's age. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is the average volume of red cells. It can be directly measured by automated hematology analyzer, 2 or it can be calculated from hematocrit (Hct) and the red blood cell count (RBC). MCV, along with mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), is a part of RBC indices (erythrocyte indices), which are measurements and/or calculations for determining the size, content, and hemoglobin concentration. Red cell distribution width (RDW) has also been included as a part of RBC indices. The indices are useful in the morphologic characterization of anemia. Among these parameters, MCV is the most useful value used to classify the type of anemia based on red cell morphology. Indicates RBCs are larger than normal (macrocytic), for example in anemia caused by vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, myelodysplasia, liver disease, hypothyroidism.