II. Findings: Normal (Units in femtoliters = 10^-15 liters)
-
General
- MCV cutoffs vary from age to age
- MCV cutoffs also vary per reference
- MCV Normal Range
- Newborn: 95 to 121 fl
- Ages 6 months to 2 years: 70 to 86 fl
- Ages 12 to 18 years
- Boys: 78 - 98
- Girls: 78 - 102
- Age over 18 years: 78 to 98 fl
- MCV Cutoffs for Microcytic Anemia
- Age 1-2 years: <77 fl (CDC)
- Age 3-5 years: <79 fl (CDC)
- Age 6-11 years: <80 fl (CDC)
- Age 12-15 years: <82 fl (CDC)
- Age >15 years: <85 fl (CDC)
- Recommended adult microcytic MCV cutoff varies
- Some sources advocate MCV <78 and others <82
III. Calculations
- MCV = 10 x (Hematocrit / Red Blood Cell Count)
- Mentzer Index = MCV / RBC Count
- Ratio <13: Thalassemia
- Ratio >13: Iron Deficiency Anemia, Hemoglobinopathy
IV. Causes: Increased MCV (See Macrocytic Anemia)
- Vitamin B12 Deficiency
- Folic Acid Deficiency
- Alcohol Abuse
- Liver disease
- Marrow aplasia
- Myelofibrosis
- Reticulocytosis
- Hypothyroidism
V. Causes: Decreased MCV (See Microcytic Anemia)
VI. References
- Dallman in Hallberg (1996) Iron Nutrition, p. 65-74
- (1998) MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 47:1-29 [PubMed]