MCV in blood report

MCV :

MCV stands for mean corpuscular volume or mean cell volume. MCV is a measure of the average volume of red blood cells in a blood sample.Mean volume of red blood cells is expressed in fermatoliters (fl=10^-15 liters).

How to Calculate MCV?

Following formula is used to calculate MCV .

MCV = (PCV ÷ RBC) x 10

Laser based haematologic analysers measure MCV accurately.

The reference range for MCV is 80-96 fl/red cell in adult. 

Reference ranges may vary depending on the individual laboratory and patient's age.Red cell populations with the MCV depending on reference range are divided into two conditions.

1-Macrocytosis

2-Microcytosis

and with normal MCV count is termed as normocytic.

Macrocytosis:

Macrocytosis is a condition in which red blood cells become lager than normal(reference range) .Large circulating erythrocytes are not always associated with a pathological condition.In fact RBCs of newborn and infants tend to be larger than normal adult RBCs and large erythrocytes can be seen during pregnancy in the absence of an obvious aetiology.

Causes of Macrocytosis:

• Anemia caused by iron ,vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies
• Inability to coup after severe blood loss
• Reaction to anti convulsing drugs
• Genetic problems
• Thyroid problems
• Liver disorders
• Drugs to counter AIDS

Microcytosis:

Microcytosis means that the average volume of red blood cells is smaller than normal or reference line.

Causes:

It is one of the most dangerous reason that microcytosis occurs is a slowly bleeding or other bleeding problem.Most often these slow bleeding conditions occur in the digestive tract and could be very dangerous if left untreated.Other possible causes of low MCV are

• Low intake of Iron
• Genetic problems
• High alcohol intake
• low intake of vitamin B6
• Exposure to toxins like lead 
• Vitamin C and copper deficiencies
• Gastrointestinal Malabsorption problems such as gluten sensitivity

Precaution:

Vitamin replacement should be given by the most appropriate route.