Understanding MPV in a Blood Test: What Does It Mean for Your Health?

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Have you ever wondered how your blood stops flowing when you get a wound? Well, this is done by the remarkable function of small platelets that are crucial for blood clotting and wound healing these are made in our bone marrow and when we get an injury a signal is sent to the platelets which let them rush to the site, healthy platelets clump together to form a plug that seals the wound and prevents excessive blood loss.

A specific test called the MPV blood test which stands for mean platelet volume has been developed to monitor platelet health, which measures the average size of your platelets. The test helps diagnose several bleeding disorders, brain marrow diseases, several cardiovascular diseases as well as some cancers. If you need treatment for any type of condition you are often asked by the doctor to get your blood work done, this is done to get your blood cells (white blood, red blood platelets) checked.

What is MPV in a blood test?

Understanding MPV in a Blood Test What Does It Mean for Your Health (1)

MPV test is a part of the complete blood count(CBC) test which measures many different types of cells in your body. An MPV test measures the average size of your platelets and is closely related to a platelet count test. If your blood is exhibiting an abnormal platelet count then you may need an MPV test. In some cases, an abnormal platelet count may be a sign of a bleeding disorder or other health problem.

MPV test measures the average size of your platelets. Large platelets are considered more active in forming blood clots while small platelets may indicate decreased levels of blood clotting and other platelet activities. A higher MPV represents that your platelets are bigger than normal and may also be a sign of too much platelet production. Smaller platelets tend to be older and a low MPV in a blood test represents your bone marrow is not producing any more platelets.

What happens during an MPV blood test?

MPV is a simple and quick procedure, usually done with your primary care physician during your annual checkup, here is what you can expect:

A professional phlebotomist trained in drawing blood will begin by wrapping a tourniquet around your upper arm. This will stretch your muscles, making it easier to know where to go and get there.

Once your vein is more exposed, the phlebotomist cleans the area with antiseptic and inserts a thin needle into the vein, usually in the broken part of your wrist.

You may feel some discomfort when applying the needle, but you should experience minimal discomfort.
Blood is drawn into vessels or tubes. The entire blood collection process usually takes less than five minutes.

Then the process:

Collection of necessary blood samples, removal of the needle and a bandage or cotton swab is applied to the puncture site to stop the bleeding.

You may experience some minor bruising or swelling at the incision site, but this usually goes away within a few days.

High MPV and Low MPV

Understanding MPV in a Blood Test What Does It Mean for Your Health (2)

An MPV test alone can’t diagnose the health condition that you may be suffering from. So your doctor will use your MPV results along with your platelet counts to get a clear picture of your health condition. Depending on your platelet count an MPV result can be higher or lower. A normal MPV in a blood test range falls between 7.5 and 9fL. Within this range, platelets are average-sized. Depending on your other CBC results, high MPV could mean:

Inflammation
Infection
Chronic diseases
Bone marrow disorders
Also represents a higher risk of cardiovascular events.
Thrombocytopenia which represents low platelet count.
Diabetes
Hemolytic Anemia
Vitamin D deficiency

A low MPV in a blood test may be a sign of :

Bone marrow disorders
Certain cancers: A high MPV does not mean you have cancer, if you have a family history of cancer or if u do have cancer then fluctuations in MPV may be a warning sign.
Liver disease
Increased risk of bleeding
Aplastic anemia
Bacterial or viral infections.

Note: Several other factors can affect your MPV such as:

Living at a high altitude
Sex
Age
Other medical conditions and genetic factors.
Several medications
Race and ethnicity
MPV is highly impacted by several lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking, alcohol abuse, etc.

Conclusion:

An MPV stands for mean platelet volume has been developed to monitor platelet health, which measures the average size of your platelets.

Your MPV does not show your platelet count, you can have different combinations of platelet counts and MPV, such as low MPV with a high platelet count and vice versa.

A high or low MPV alone does not indicate an increased risk of diseases.