To learn what your results mean, talk with your provider.
MPV Blood Test
MPV stands for mean platelet volume. Platelets are small blood cells that stick together to make blood clots that stop or slow bleeding when you have a cut or injury. Platelets are made in your bone marrow.
An MPV blood test measures the average size of your platelets. The test can help diagnose bleeding disorders and diseases of the bone marrow.
Other names: Mean Platelet Volume
What is it used for?
An MPV blood test is used to help diagnose or monitor many blood-related conditions. The test may also be used to help diagnose other health conditions or find out how serious they may be. A test called a platelet count is often done with an MVP test. A platelet count measures the total number of platelets in your blood.
Why do I need an MPV blood test?
Your health care provider may order an MPV blood test as part of a complete blood count (CBC), which measures many different parts of your blood, including platelets. A CBC test is often part of a routine exam. You may also need an MPV test if you have symptoms of a blood disorder that may involve having too many or too few platelets. These symptoms include:
- Bleeding that takes a long time to stop, even from minor cuts
- Nosebleeds
- Bleeding from brushing your teeth
- Small red or purplish spots on the skin
- Bruising easily
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding (especially heavy menstrual periods)
- Feeling weak or dizzy
- Lasting headache and dizziness
- Pain and burning in the feet and hands
What happens during an MPV blood test?
During the test, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?
You don’t need any special preparations for an MPV blood test. If your provider has ordered more tests on your blood sample, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. Your provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.
Are there any risks to the test?
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
What do the results mean?
An MPV test alone can’t diagnose a health condition. Your provider will use your MPV results along with your platelet counts and other test results to get a more complete picture of your health. Depending on your platelet count and other blood test results, an MPV result that’s higher than normal may be a sign of:
- Thrombocytopenia, not having enough platelets
- Myeloproliferative diseases, blood cancers in which the bone marrow makes too many platelets or other blood cells
- Preeclampsia, a complication in pregnancy that causes high blood pressure. It usually starts after the 20th week of pregnancy.
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Hemolytic anemia
A low MPV test result may be a sign of:
- Certain cancers
- Side effects from certain medicines
- Aplastic anemia
- Autoimmune diseases
- Bacterial or viral infections
- Genetic conditions
- Alcohol use disorder (AUD)
To learn what your results mean, talk with your provider.
Is there anything else I need to know about an MPV blood test?
Many things can affect the results of your MPV blood test. Your age, sex, race and ethnicity, lifestyle (diet, smoking, drinking alcohol, physical activity), and genes can affect both your MPV and platelet counts.
References
- Bessman JD, Gilmer PR, Gardner FH. Use of mean platelet volume improves detection of platelet disorders. Blood Cells [Internet]. 1985 [cited 2017 Mar 15]; 11(1):127–35. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4074887
- ClinLab Navigator [Internet]. ClinLab Navigator LLC.; c2022. Mean Platelet Volume; [cited 2022 Feb 21]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: http://www.clinlabnavigator.com/mean-platelet-volume.html?letter=M
- F.E.A.S.T’s Eating Disorders Glossary [Internet]. Milwaukee: Families Empowered And Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders; Bone Marrow Hypoplasia; [cited 2017 Mar 15]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: http://glossary.feast-ed.org/3-treatment-medical-management/bone-marrow-hypoplasia
- Hinkle J, Cheever K. Brunner & Suddarth’s Handbook of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests. 2nd Ed, Kindle. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; c2014. Platelet Count; p. 419.
- Korniluk A, Koper-Lenkiewicz O, Kaminska J, Kemona H, Dymicka-Piekarska V. Mean Platelet Volume (MPV): New Perspectives for an Old Marker in the Course and Prognosis of Inflammatory Conditions. Mediators of Inflammation [Internet]. 2019 Apr 17 [cited 2022 Feb 21]; 2019 (Article ID 9213074). Available from: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/mi/2019/9213074/
- NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine: Genetics Home Reference [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 8p11 myeloproliferative syndrome ; [last updated 2020 Sep 8; cited 2022 Feb 21]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/8p11-myeloproliferative-syndrome/
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Blood Tests; [updated 2022 Mar 24; cited 2022 Feb 21]; [about 5 screens]. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/blood-tests
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Thrombocytopenia; [cited 2022 Feb 21]; [about 17 screens]. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/thcp
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis; [cited 2022 Feb 21]; [about 14 screens]. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/thrombocythemia-and-thrombocytosis
- Slavka G, Perkmann T, Haslacher H, Greisenegger S, Marsik C, Wagner OF, Endler G. Mean Platelet Volume May Represent a Predictive Parameter for Overall Vascular Mortality and Ischemic Heart Disease. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. [Internet]. 2011 Feb 17 [cited 2017 Mar 15]; 31(5):1215–8. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21330610
- Testing.com [Internet]. Seattle (WA).: OneCare Media; c2022. Complete Blood Count; [modified 2021 Dec 2; cited 2022 Feb 21]; [about 17 screens]. Available from: https://www.testing.com/tests/complete-blood-count-cbc/
- Testing.com [Internet]. Seattle (WA): OneCare Media; c2022. Platelet Count; [modified 2021 Dec2; cited 2022 Feb 21]; [about 15 screens]. Available from: https://www.testing.com/tests/platelet-count/
- University of Rochester Medical Center [Internet]. Rochester (NY): University of Rochester Medical Center; c2022. Health Encyclopedia: Platelets; [cited 2022 Feb 21]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=platelet_count
Related Health Topics
- Bleeding Disorders
- Blood Clots
- Blood Count Tests
- Platelet Disorders
MPV Blood Test
An MPV blood test measures the average size of your platelets, the blood cells that help your blood clot. When considered alongside other test results on a complete blood count (CBC), an MPV test can help your healthcare provider diagnose blood disorders and other conditions.
Overview
What is an MPV blood test?
An MPV blood test measures the average size of your platelets. Platelets (thrombocytes) are blood cells made in the spongy tissue inside of your bone called bone marrow. They help your blood clot. If you’re injured, platelets clump together at the site of the wound. They slow and then stop the blood flow, so you don’t lose too much blood.
MPV stands for mean platelet volume:
- Mean: The mathematical “average” of a group of numbers.
- Platelet: The blood cells that help your blood clot.
- Volume: The amount of space a substance (like a platelet) occupies.
An MPV test calculates the average platelet size in a blood sample to get a clearer picture of the health of these blood cells. Abnormal results may signal a blood disorder or condition that affects your bone marrow.
When is an MPV blood test performed?
You may receive an MPV blood test as part of a complete blood count (CBC). A CBC is a routine blood test your provider may order as part of an annual physical exam. A CBC measures how many red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets you have. It also measures other important features of your blood cells, like their size.
A platelet count, platelet distribution width (PDW) and an MPV blood test are parts of a CBC that provide helpful information about your platelets. A platelet count measures how many platelets you have in your blood. PDW measures how varied the widths of your platelets are. Together, these platelet tests can help your provider investigate multiple conditions, including:
- Thrombocytopenia: Low platelet count.
- Thrombocytosis: High platelet count.
You may receive an MPV blood test outside of routine blood work if you have unexplained bleeding, bruising or other symptoms that may signal problems with how your blood clots.
Who performs an MPV blood test?
A doctor, nurse or phlebotomist will draw a blood sample that they’ll send to a lab for testing. A phlebotomist is a healthcare provider specially trained to draw blood for testing or transfusions.
A lab technician will run tests on the blood and compile results for your healthcare provider.
Test Details
How do I prepare for an MPV blood test?
Typically, you won’t need to do anything special to prepare for an MPV blood test. An MPV blood test often happens alongside other tests performed on the same blood sample. If this is the case, you may need to fast (no food or drink) for a certain amount of time before your blood draw. For instance, tests that check your blood sugar or cholesterol levels typically require fasting.
Follow your provider’s instructions about fasting before the test. Get clarity on what food and drink aren’t acceptable past a certain cutoff period. Ask if you should stop taking any medications before your blood test.
What should I expect during an MPV blood test?
An MPV test involves a simple blood draw that often takes less than five minutes. You may get the test in a healthcare provider’s office, lab or hospital.
Your provider will:
- Place a strip of cloth or plastic (tourniquet) above the spot on your arm where the needle will go. The tourniquet slows the blood flow, making it easier to access your vein.
- Clean your skin and gently insert a tiny needle into your vein. You may feel a slight sting or prick when the needle’s inserted.
- Collect a sample of blood in a vial.
- Remove the needle.
- Apply gentle pressure to the site with a cotton ball or bandage to stop bleeding.
Afterward, they’ll send the sample to a lab for testing.
What are the risks of an MPV blood test?
An MPV blood test doesn’t pose serious risks. You may have some soreness or slight bruising at the blood draw site, but these symptoms usually go away within a few days.
Results and Follow-Up
What do MPV blood test results mean?
The results of an MPV blood test don’t provide enough information for a diagnosis. Still, your provider can consider these results alongside other blood tests, like your platelet count, to get closer to a diagnosis.
What is a normal MPV blood test result?
MPV blood test results may be normal or abnormal (low or high). Different labs have different cutoff points for normal, low or high results. Generally, a normal MPV blood test is 7 fL to 9 fL (femtoliters) for non-pregnant adults.
What does it mean if your MPV blood test results are high?
A high test result means that your platelets are larger than what’s considered normal. Newly made platelets are larger than older platelets, so a high number may signal that your bone marrow’s making a lot of new platelets. Platelet production may increase if your older (smaller) platelets are being destroyed at an increased rate.
Conditions associated with high MPV results include:
- Cancer.
- Diabetes.
- Cardiovascular disease.
- Preeclampsia.
- Crohn’s disease.
- Hyperthyroidism.
- Immune thrombocytopenia.
- Myeloproliferative disease.
- Vitamin B12, D or folate deficiency.
- Macrothrombocytopenia (giant platelet disorders).
What does it mean if your MPV blood test results are low?
Low results mean that your platelets are smaller than what’s considered normal. Low MPV may mean your bone marrow isn’t producing enough new platelets.
Conditions associated with low MPV results include:
- Aplastic anemia.
- Lupus.
- Marrow hypoplasia.
- Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.
- Primary or secondary thrombocytosis.
Low results may indicate that drugs are limiting your bone marrow’s ability to make new platelets. For example, some chemotherapy drugs may have this effect.
Still, a low or high result doesn’t mean you have a disease or disorder. The results provide information that your provider can consider when deciding the next steps for arriving at a diagnosis.
What factors can affect the results of an MPV blood test?
Sometimes, results are artificially high or low because of a factor unrelated to a medical condition. Any of the following can affect your MPV:
- Altitude.
- Pregnancy.
- Menstruation (being on your period).
- Regular strenuous exercise.
- Certain medications, like birth control pills.
Speak with your provider if you’re curious if these factors or others may have caused your results to be high or low.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can COVID-19 cause high MPV?
Some studies have demonstrated that MPV is higher in people with COVID-19 compared to people without COVID-19. Still, these findings are new. More research is needed to understand the connection between MPV blood test results and COVID-19 infection or disease severity.
Can stress cause high MPV?
Yes. Studies have shown that physical and mental stress on your body can affect platelet size. Long-term vigorous exercise can lead to high MPV. People with panic disorders may have higher-than-normal MPV.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Don’t be alarmed if you receive a low or high result on the MPV (mean platelet volume) portion of a blood test. MPV is just one factor that your healthcare provider can use to determine the health of your blood cells. Follow their guidance about what follow-up testing or procedures you may need based on your results.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 07/19/2022.
References
- Atik D, Kaya HB. Evaluation of the relationship of MPV, RDW and PVI parameters with disease severity in COVID-19 patients. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34588729/) Acta Clin Croat. 2021;60(1):103-114. Accessed 7/19/2022.
- Gumus H, Demir A, Yükkaldıran A. Is mean platelet volume a predictive marker for the diagnosis of COVID-19 in children? (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33280213/) Int J Clin Pract. 2021;75(4):e13892. Accessed 7/19/2022.
- Kokacya MH, Copoglu US, Kivrak Y, Ari M, Sahpolat M, Ulutas KT. Increased mean platelet volume in patients with panic disorder. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4610766/) Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2015;11:2629-2633. Published 2015 Oct 13. Accessed 7/19/2022.
- Korniluk A, Koper-Lenkiewicz OM, Kamińska J, Kemona H, Dymicka-Piekarska V. Mean platelet volume (MPV): new perspectives for an old marker in the course and prognosis of inflammatory conditions. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6501263/) Mediators Inflamm. 2019;2019:9213074. Published 2019 Apr 17. Accessed 7/19/2022.
- Marcogliese AN and Yee DL. Chapter 162: Resources for the hematologist: interpretive comments and selected reference values for neonatal, pediatric, and adult populations. In: Silberstein LE, Anastasi J, eds.Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2018: e1-e26. Accessed 7/19/2022.
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