Blood
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
Reference ranges by source
Published adult intervals: 4, from 4 named sources, shown in fL.
SOURCE
SEX
AGE
RANGE
VISUAL
CITE
J
JSCC / JAMT Japan
All
≥18y
85 – 99 fL
Ages 0–17 (CALIPER)
4 age- and sex-stratified entries from the Canadian Laboratory Initiative on Pediatric Reference Intervals.
SOURCE
SEX
AGE
RANGE
VISUAL
CITE
About Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
MCV stands for mean corpuscular volume. An MCV blood test measures the average size of your red blood cells.
Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to every cell in your body. Your cells need oxygen to grow, reproduce, and make energy. If your red blood cells are too small or too large, it could be a sign of a blood disorder such as anemia, a lack of certain vitamins, or other medical conditions.
MCV is one of the main numbers used to sort out what type of anemia someone may have. Red blood cells that are smaller than normal (low MCV) are called microcytic, cells that are larger than normal (high MCV) are called macrocytic, and cells of normal size are called normocytic.
Main source: MedlinePlus ↗
Useful for
An MCV blood test is often part of a complete blood count (CBC), a group of tests that measures the number and type of cells in your blood.
Used to check your general health.
Helps your provider figure out what type of anemia you may have, since cells that are too small, too large, or normal-sized point to different causes.
Often looked at together with the red cell distribution width (RDW), which can help separate iron deficiency from inherited conditions like thalassemia.
Main source: MedlinePlus ↗
Interpretation
An MCV test alone cannot diagnose any disease. Your provider will use the results of your MCV, other test results, and your medical history to make a diagnosis.
A low MCV (microcytic cells) is most often linked to iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia, or some long-term illnesses. A high MCV (macrocytic cells) is often seen with vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, heavy alcohol use, certain medicines, or thyroid and liver disease.
It's also possible to have anemia with a normal MCV. Your provider can explain what your specific result means for you.
For general wellness information only. Talk to a clinician about your specific results.
Main source: MedlinePlus ↗
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Related biomarkers
More tests in the blood category.
Sources
M
Mayo Clinic Laboratories
L
Labcorp
N
Nordic Reference Interval Project
J
JSCC / JAMT Japan
C
CALIPER: Canadian Pediatric Reference Intervals
Last updated 2026-05-02
This page presents source-specific reference data and sourced explanations. For general wellness information only. This is not medical advice. For diagnosis or treatment of any condition, talk to a qualified clinician.