What is Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) Blood Test: High, Low & Normal MPV Ranges

a laboratory worker doing mean platelet volume blood test

Doctors use the MPV test or Mean Platelet Volume test to identify health issues like cardiovascular diseases, some cancers, anaemia and much more. Conducted during the complete blood count (CBC) test, MPV tests help doctors diagnose bleeding disorders and diseases of the bone marrow.

Keep reading to learn more about the MPV test, including its procedure, reports and more.

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What is an MPV Test?

MPV tests are conducted under the umbrella of complete blood count (CBC) tests to measure the average size of the platelets. Platelets are small blood cells that are essential for blood clotting, and thus, platelet abnormalities can be a sign of bleeding disorders or other serious health problems.

Platelets are made in the bone marrow, and they stick together to make blood clots that slow the bleeding at the time of a cut or injury. Thus, platelets need to be monitored through the MPV tests to diagnose ailments in the bone marrow or other blood-related conditions.

What is the Process for Conducting an MPV Test?

During an MPV test, the patient's blood is drawn from the veins with the help of a small needle. This blood is collected in a small test tube. The process of collecting the blood sample takes less than 5 minutes and is not very painful.

You can experience slight tingling or bruising in the skin from where the blood has been drawn, but this will last only for a few days.

Who is at Risk of Having High MPV?

High MPV reports that you have larger than average platelets. This can be a sign of your body producing too many platelets. Platelets are released into the bloodstream after being produced in the bone marrow. Larger platelets are young and recently produced ones from the bone marrow. Smaller platelets are, however, in circulation for a few days.

Some reasons for high MPV include:

Blood loss from trauma or a major surgery
Thrombocytopenia, or not having enough platelets
Myeloproliferative diseases, or blood cancers where the bone marrow makes too many platelets

Cardiovascular risk factors like smoking, diabetes, and hypertension can also influence one's MPV. Someone with a low platelet count and high MPV levels suggests that the bone marrow is producing platelets rapidly, which can be the case when old platelets are being destroyed and the bone marrow is trying to compensate.

How to Read An MPV Report?

Average MPV test results can vary between 8 to 12 femtoliters. A high MPV is usually more than 12 femtoliters and a low MPV is less than 8 femtolitres. High MPV is when your platelets are larger than average, while low MPV is when your platelets are smaller than average.

A low MPV, along with other CBC results, may indicate the following:

Inflammatory bowel disease
Cytotoxic medications
Aplastic anaemia

A normal MPV blood test report is 8fL to 12fL for non-pregnant adults. Any individual with an MPV beyond this range must be evaluated carefully, especially for arterial diseases. You must seek the advice of a medical expert on your MPV test reports.

Who is Required to Mainly Take An MPV Test?

Doctors can prescribe you to go for an MPV test if you have symptoms of low platelet count. These symptoms include:

Excessive bruising
Superficial bleeding in the skin
Prolonged bleeding from cuts
Bleeding gums or nose
Blood in urine or stools
Unusual heavy menstrual flow
Fatigue

How to Prepare for the MPV Test?

No special preparations are required before your MPV test. If the doctor has ordered other tests on your blood sample, then you need to fast several hours before the test. Your medical healthcare provider will provide you with all the relevant details about your MPV test.

Thus, the MPV test is highly used to diagnose blood-related disorders and it helps the doctors to understand the patient’s health status and provide the specific treatment needed. Several factors affect the MPV test results like exercise routine, high altitude and much more.

FAQs about MPV Test

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What are the risk factors for MPV?

Low-grade inflammation, female gender, metabolic syndrome, and obesity are some of the risk factors for MPV.

What diseases cause low MPV?

Diseases like tuberculosis, ulcerative colitis, SLE in adults, neoplastic diseases, aplastic anaemia, and chronic kidney failure can result in low MPV.

How frequently should I go for routine blood tests?

It is advisable to undergo routine blood tests at least three times a year, but the actual frequency depends on factors like age, medical history, and lifestyle habits. Individuals with no existing health concerns may only need check-ups once every one to two years, whereas those with chronic illnesses or older adults may require them more often.

For seniors or individuals at higher risk, choosing a health insurance plan that includes complimentary health screenings and diagnostic tests can help ensure the timely detection of potential health issues without additional financial burden.