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Haematology
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
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This is the date the draft was written, not a medical review date.
MCV is the average volume of a red cell and the first step in the morphological classification of anaemia into microcytic, normocytic and macrocytic types.
Reference interval
| Conventional (fL) | SI (fL) | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | 80–100 fL | 80–100 fL |
Specimen: Whole blood (EDTA) · Conventional × 1 = SI
Causes of high values
Macrocytosis: vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, alcohol use, liver disease, hypothyroidism, myelodysplastic syndromes, reticulocytosis and some drugs (for example hydroxycarbamide, methotrexate).
Causes of low values
Microcytosis: iron deficiency, thalassaemia trait, anaemia of chronic disease (sometimes) and sideroblastic anaemia.
Pre-analytical and method notes
Reference limits vary with age (higher in newborns, lower in young children) and analyser. Cold agglutinins, marked hyperglycaemia and delayed analysis can falsely raise MCV; a mixed deficiency may give a normal MCV with a raised RDW.
References
- Rifai N, Horvath AR, Wittwer CT. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. Elsevier, 6th edition (2018) — Tier 3 (textbook)
- Loscalzo J, et al.. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. McGraw-Hill, 21st edition (2022) — Tier 3 (textbook)
- Haemoglobin concentrations for the diagnosis of anaemia and assessment of severity (WHO/NMH/NHD/MNM/11.1). World Health Organization (2011) — Tier 1 (standards / international bodies)
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