Mean Corpuscular Volume
Abbreviation: MCV
Panel: Complete Blood Count (CBC) · All complete blood count tests
Typical adult reference range
| Conventional units | 80–100 fL |
| SI units | 80–100 fL |
Ranges vary between laboratories and methods — compare your result with the range printed on your own report.
What a high or low result can mean
High mean corpuscular volume: high values can be seen in vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, alcohol use, and some medications.
Low mean corpuscular volume: low values may occur with iron deficiency or thalassemia trait.
These are associations, not a diagnosis: the same result can have several causes, and your clinician interprets it with the rest of your results and history.
Related tests — Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Please note: Reference ranges vary between laboratories, and between the methods and instruments they use — the range printed on your own report is the one your result should be compared with. A result outside the range is not by itself a diagnosis, and a result inside it does not rule out illness. These pages are an educational summary, not medical advice: always discuss your results with the clinician who ordered them, who can interpret them in the context of your health and history.