It is included in a routine panel of tests called acomplete blood count (CBC).
For adults, MCV levels normally fall between 80 and 100 femtoliters (fl).
Red blood cells carry oxygen through your body.
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
A low MCV means that your red blood cells are smaller than average, possibly indicatingiron deficiency anemia.
The interpretation relies heavily on other blood test results in the CBC.
An abnormal MCV may suggest a health issue but cannot diagnose any condition on its own.
The termcorpuscledescribes a living cell, such as a red blood cell.
This includes liver disease, chronic kidney disease, and certain vitamin deficiencies.
Who Needs an MCV Test?
The MCV is one of many tests used to assess your general health.
This is known asmacrocytosis.
Macrocytosis may also be triggered by vitamin deficiencies that prevent immature red blood cells (calledreticulocytes) from maturing.
Instead, they become abnormally large and start to crowd out normal red blood cells, leading tomacrocytic anemia.
But it could also indicate a medical problem if other tests in the CBC are abnormal.
But it is not usually looked at alone.
Instead, your healthcare provider will consider MCV alongside other things in a CBC to get a complete picture.
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