mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
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Reference interval
- 80-96 um3
Increases
- macrocytic anemia
- alcoholism
- non-megaloblastic macrocytosis
- large numbers of reticulocytes
- acute blood loss anemia
- hemolytic anemia
- aplastic anemia
- hypothyroidism
- liver disease
- disseminated liver disease
- large numbers of reticulocytes
- cold agglutinins (cold agglutinin syndrome)
- very high MCV (> 130 fL) may be noted due to RBC agglutination[1]
- smoking
- leukocytosis (> 25,000/uL) with Coulter counter model S
- pharmaceutical agents
- zidovudine (AZT)
- acyclovir
- aminosalicylic acid
- anticonvulsants
- azathioprine
- azauridine
- colchicine
- cycloserine
- cytarabine
- fluorouracil
- glutethemide
- hydroxyurea
- isoniazid
- mefenamic acid
- mercaptopurine
- metformin
- methotrexate
- neomycin
- nitrofurans
- oral contraceptives
- pentamidine
- phenacetin
- pyrimethamine
- thioguanine
- triamterene
- trimethoprim
Decreases
- iron-deficiency anemia
- thalassemia
- anemia of chronic disease/inflammation
- some hemoglobinopathies
- hyperthyroidism (occasionally)
Methods
- many automated cell counters directly measure the MCV
- may be calculated from the hematocrit & erythrocyte count
MCV (fL) = Hct (volume fraction) / erythrocytes per liter
Notes
- MCV may NOT be reliable when large numbers of abnormal erythrocytes (i.e. sickle cells) or a dimorphic population of erythrocytes is present
More general terms
More specific terms
Additional terms
Component of
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, 18. American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998, 2018
- ↑ Panel of 10 tests Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: http://www.aruplab.com/guides/ug/tests/0040002.jsp
- ↑ Panel of 24 tests Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: http://www.aruplab.com/guides/ug/tests/0040003.jsp