Blood and lab tests
What Does MCV Mean on a Blood Test?
MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume) · say it: em-see-VEEAlso written: mean corpuscular volume, mean cell volume
Short answer
MCV is the average size of your red blood cells; it helps doctors narrow down the possible reasons for anaemia.
What it means
"Corpuscular" is an old word for cell, so MCV simply means the average volume of a red blood cell. It is calculated automatically as part of a complete blood count.
Red cells that are smaller than usual (microcytic) are often linked to low iron or certain inherited conditions. Cells larger than usual (macrocytic) can be linked to low vitamin B12 or folate, alcohol, liver conditions, some medicines and other causes.
MCV is most useful when hemoglobin is abnormal, because it points doctors toward which tests to do next. A slightly unusual MCV with a normal hemoglobin is often looked at over time.
Where you may see it
- Complete blood count (CBC), in the red cell indices section
- Anaemia work-up reports
📄 How it looks on a report
MCV 76 fL L
🙅 What it does not mean
- An abnormal MCV is not a diagnosis; it is a clue that helps guide further tests.
- Small red cells are not always caused by iron deficiency; some inherited traits also cause them.
- A borderline MCV with otherwise normal results is often of little significance by itself.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
🧾 Reports where you will see “MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume)”
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🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume)” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- MedlinePlus lab test guides ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.