Complete blood count
MCV
MCV is the mean corpuscular volume, the average size of your red blood cells. It is one of the most useful single clues to the cause of anaemia, because different causes make cells either smaller or larger than normal.
Typical adult reference range
Roughly 80 to 100 · fL
Ranges vary between laboratories and by age, sex and method. Always read your own result against the range printed on your own report.
What a high result can mean
Larger than normal cells are seen with low B12 or folate, with alcohol use, with some thyroid problems, with certain medicines, and with liver disease.
What a low result can mean
Smaller than normal cells most often point to iron deficiency or to an inherited condition such as thalassaemia trait. Long-standing inflammation can also produce smaller cells.
What commonly affects this result
Alcohol, B12 and folate levels, thyroid function, and several common medicines.
Questions worth asking your doctor
- Does my MCV point toward an iron problem or a B12 and folate problem?
- Should we check those levels before treating anything?
- Could any of my current medicines be affecting this?
See what your own results say
Upload your blood test and get a plain English summary of every value on it, with the questions worth raising at your next appointment.
Analyse my resultsThis page explains what a test measures. It is general information, not medical advice, and it cannot tell you what your own result means. Reference ranges differ between laboratories, and results are only meaningful alongside your history, your symptoms and your other results. Always discuss your results with your doctor.