Mean Cell Volume (part of FBC profile)

Special Precautions/Comments:

Additional Information:

Mean cell volume provides a measurement of the average size of the red cells (erythrocytes) in the blood, providing an indication of whether the red cells are smaller (microcytic), normal (normocytic) or larger (macrocytic).
Mean cell volume provides a useful indicator of microcytic, hypochromic and macrocytic anaemias when used with other red cell indices of the full blood count profile, including Mean Cell Haemoglobin (MCH), and Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC).
The common causes of microcytic and hypochromic anaemia (decreased MCV and MCH) are as follows:
• Iron deficiency anaemia
• Anaemia of chronic disease
• Thalassemia
• Sideroblastic anaemia

The common causes of macrocytic anaemia (increased MCV) are as follows:

• Folate deficiency anaemia
• Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia
• Liver disease
• Haemolytic anaemias
• Hypothyroidism
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Aplastic anaemia
• Myelodysplastic syndrome

The common causes of normocytic and normochromic anaemia (normal MCV) are as follows:

• Anaemia of chronic disease
• Acute blood loss
• Haemolytic anaemia, such as autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, hereditary spherocytosis, or non-spherocytic congenital haemolytic anaemia (G6PD deficiency, other)
• Anaemia of renal disease
• Aplastic anaemia
Mean cell volume provides a measurement of the average size of the red cells (erythrocytes) in the blood, providing an indication of whether the red cells are smaller (microcytic), normal (normocytic) or larger (macrocytic).
Mean cell volume provides a useful indicator of microcytic, hypochromic and macrocytic anaemias when used with other red cell indices of the full blood count profile, including Mean Cell Haemoglobin (MCH), and Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC).
The common causes of microcytic and hypochromic anaemia (decreased MCV and MCH) are as follows:
• Iron deficiency anaemia
• Anaemia of chronic disease
• Thalassemia
• Sideroblastic anaemia

The common causes of macrocytic anaemia (increased MCV) are as follows:

• Folate deficiency anaemia
• Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia
• Liver disease
• Haemolytic anaemias
• Hypothyroidism
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Aplastic anaemia
• Myelodysplastic syndrome

The common causes of normocytic and normochromic anaemia (normal MCV) are as follows:

• Anaemia of chronic disease
• Acute blood loss
• Haemolytic anaemia, such as autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, hereditary spherocytosis, or non-spherocytic congenital haemolytic anaemia (G6PD deficiency, other)
• Anaemia of renal disease
• Aplastic anaemia
Mean cell volume provides a measurement of the average size of the red cells (erythrocytes) in the blood, providing an indication of whether the red cells are smaller (microcytic), normal (normocytic) or larger (macrocytic).
Mean cell volume provides a useful indicator of microcytic, hypochromic and macrocytic anaemias when used with other red cell indices of the full blood count profile, including Mean Cell Haemoglobin (MCH), and Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC).
The common causes of microcytic and hypochromic anaemia (decreased MCV and MCH) are as follows:
• Iron deficiency anaemia
• Anaemia of chronic disease
• Thalassemia
• Sideroblastic anaemia

The common causes of macrocytic anaemia (increased MCV) are as follows:

• Folate deficiency anaemia
• Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia
• Liver disease
• Haemolytic anaemias
• Hypothyroidism
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Aplastic anaemia
• Myelodysplastic syndrome

The common causes of normocytic and normochromic anaemia (normal MCV) are as follows:

• Anaemia of chronic disease
• Acute blood loss
• Haemolytic anaemia, such as autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, hereditary spherocytosis, or non-spherocytic congenital haemolytic anaemia (G6PD deficiency, other)
• Anaemia of renal disease
• Aplastic anaemia
Mean cell volume provides a measurement of the average size of the red cells (erythrocytes) in the blood, providing an indication of whether the red cells are smaller (microcytic), normal (normocytic) or larger (macrocytic).
Mean cell volume provides a useful indicator of microcytic, hypochromic and macrocytic anaemias when used with other red cell indices of the full blood count profile, including Mean Cell Haemoglobin (MCH), and Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC).
The common causes of microcytic and hypochromic anaemia (decreased MCV and MCH) are as follows:
• Iron deficiency anaemia
• Anaemia of chronic disease
• Thalassemia
• Sideroblastic anaemia

The common causes of macrocytic anaemia (increased MCV) are as follows:

• Folate deficiency anaemia
• Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia
• Liver disease
• Haemolytic anaemias
• Hypothyroidism
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Aplastic anaemia
• Myelodysplastic syndrome

The common causes of normocytic and normochromic anaemia (normal MCV) are as follows:

• Anaemia of chronic disease
• Acute blood loss
• Haemolytic anaemia, such as autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, hereditary spherocytosis, or non-spherocytic congenital haemolytic anaemia (G6PD deficiency, other)
• Anaemia of renal disease
• Aplastic anaemia
Mean cell volume provides a measurement of the average size of the red cells (erythrocytes) in the blood, providing an indication of whether the red cells are smaller (microcytic), normal (normocytic) or larger (macrocytic).
Mean cell volume provides a useful indicator of microcytic, hypochromic and macrocytic anaemias when used with other red cell indices of the full blood count profile, including Mean Cell Haemoglobin (MCH), and Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC).
The common causes of microcytic and hypochromic anaemia (decreased MCV and MCH) are as follows:
• Iron deficiency anaemia
• Anaemia of chronic disease
• Thalassemia
• Sideroblastic anaemia

The common causes of macrocytic anaemia (increased MCV) are as follows:

• Folate deficiency anaemia
• Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia
• Liver disease
• Haemolytic anaemias
• Hypothyroidism
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Aplastic anaemia
• Myelodysplastic syndrome

The common causes of normocytic and normochromic anaemia (normal MCV) are as follows:

• Anaemia of chronic disease
• Acute blood loss
• Haemolytic anaemia, such as autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, hereditary spherocytosis, or non-spherocytic congenital haemolytic anaemia (G6PD deficiency, other)
• Anaemia of renal disease
• Aplastic anaemia