MCV can also help determine a prognosis for certain cancers and chronic kidney disease. In addition, it may be used as a tool to evaluate cognitive function in older adults. The MCV test, especially when combined with other numbers on a CBC, can help diagnose anemia, planning treatment, or predicting prognosis with other medical conditions. Unfortunately, these small numbers on a CBC can easily be overlooked.
So it's a good idea to be your own advocate and ask your healthcare provider about any levels that are marked as abnormal. A high mean corpuscular volume MCV in a blood test indicates that red blood cells are larger than average.
The presence of large blood cells is referred to as macrocytosis. Corpuscular is an adjective based on corpuscle, which is a single red or white blood cell. Corpuscles are multiple blood cells. Anemia is when a person has a low red blood cell count. There are two types of macrocytic anemias:. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.
Maner BS, Moosavi L. Mean corpuscular volume. National Center for Biotechnology Information, U. National Library of Medicine. Updated July 22, Mean corpuscular volume and mortality in patients with CKD. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis. World Health Organization.
McPherson R. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; Megaloblastic anemia and other causes of macrocytosis. Clin Med Res. Normocytic anemia. Am Fam Physician. MCV mean corpuscular volume.
Updated July 31, Nagao T, Hirokawa M. Diagnosis and treatment of macrocytic anemias in adults. J Gen Fam Med. Published Apr 13, Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification.
I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Purpose of MCV Test. What To Expect. Interpreting Results. None of these strategies should ever be done in place of what your doctor recommends or prescribes! Make sure you are eating a healthy and nutritious diet. In order to prevent nutrient deficiency, it is important that your diet consists of the recommended amount of iron, copper, and other essential nutrients [ 14 , 15 , 10 ].
In addition, you can sprinkle lemon juice on your meat and salads. Vitamin C can significantly increase the absorption of iron from foods [ 16 ]. A high MCV means that your red blood cells are bigger than normal macrocytic [ 1 ]. By itself, large red blood cells macrocytosis do not cause any symptoms. However, they can help provide information about underlying health conditions [ 17 ]. One common cause of high MCV is megaloblastic anemia, particularly the kinds that result from deficiencies of vitamin B1 2 and folate vitamin B9 [ 18 ].
With megaloblastic anemia, red blood cells are larger, but their core nucleus is smaller. These abnormalities are due to impaired DNA synthesis, which can result from folate and B12 deficiency. The effects are most apparent in rapidly dividing cells such as blood cells and gut cells. Alcohol intake is another common cause of high MCV. Alcoholics have higher MCV than non-alcoholics. In one study, after alcoholic-liver disease patients abstained from drinking alcohol, their MCV decreased significantly [ 19 , 20 , 21 ].
Liver disease can also increase the size of red blood cells. This is due to the build-up of fats in red blood cell membranes [ 21 , 20 , 22 ]. An underactive thyroid hypothyroidism has also been associated with bigger red blood cells [ 23 ].
Some autoimmune diseases that impact red blood cells, such as aplastic anemia and autoimmune hemolytic anemia can increase MCV [ 24 , 17 , 25 ]. RBC indices, by looking at the characteristics of red blood cells, are helpful in not only figuring out the cause of anemia but in diagnosing medical conditions even when the red blood cell count is normal. The combination of these indices also gives important clues in narrowing down anemia.
The examples given above are only a few of the possible causes, and determining the precise cause of anemia is sometimes very challenging. These blood tests are best used in combination with a careful history, a thorough physical exam, and any imaging tests which are indicated. Learning about these blood tests can help you ask your healthcare provider questions so that you thoroughly understand either a diagnosis she has made, or further testing she is recommending.
Increasingly, people are being called on to be an active participant in their health care, and learning how to make informed decisions about their health. Taking the time to learn about your lab values can help you be empowered in making the choices that are best for you alone. Red blood count RBC indices are four measures of the size and quality of red blood cells. This can help diagnose certain health conditions. Anemia is caused by a lack of healthy red blood cells, which are needed to deliver oxygen to the body.
A person with anemia might feel more tired or cold than usual, or appear especially pale. A high mean corpuscular volume MCV does not definitively indicate cancer. However, it can provide useful information when cancer is present.
For example, it can predict how chemotherapy might affect a person with rectal cancer. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.
George-gay B, Parker K. Understanding the complete blood count with differential. J Perianesth Nurs. Comput Math Methods Med. Diagnosis and management of iron deficiency anemia in the 21st century. Therap Adv Gastroenterol. High hematocrit as a risk factor for venous thrombosis. Cause or innocent bystander? Prognostic implications of relative hypochromia in ambulatory patients with chronic systolic heart failure.
Congest Heart Fail. Cryohemolysis, erythrocyte osmotic fragility, and supplementary hematimetric indices in the diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis. Blood Res. Iron overload cardiomyopathy: better understanding of an increasing disorder. J Am Coll Cardiol.
Van vranken M. Evaluation of microcytosis. Am Fam Physician. Nagao T, Hirokawa M. Diagnosis and treatment of macrocytic anemias in adults. J Gen Fam Med. These symptoms include:. During the test, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
You don't need any special preparations for an MCV blood test. If your health care provider has ordered more tests on your blood sample, you may need to fast not eat or drink for several hours before the test. Your health care provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly. If your MCV levels are not in the normal range, it doesn't necessarily mean that you have a medical problem needing treatment.
Diet, activity level, medicines, a women's menstrual cycle, and other considerations can affect the results.
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