A mean platelet volume (MPV) test measures the average size of platelets in your blood. Platelets are blood cells that your bone marrow makes. Healthy platelets clump together to help your blood clot when you get injured.
When your bone marrow makes new platelets, they’re bigger than the older platelets in your blood. How old your platelets are can be determined by their size, which can help your healthcare provider diagnose or monitor some conditions.
An MPV test is often part of a complete blood count (CBC) during routine exams. But your healthcare provider may also order an MPV test if you show symptoms that suggest an issue with your platelet size or number. These symptoms may include:
- Easy bruising
- Gum bleeding from brushing your teeth
- Bleeding that takes longer to stop, even from small cuts
- Heavy menstrual periods
- Blood in your stool, urine, or vomit
- Small red, brownish-yellow, or purplish spots on your skin
- Symptoms of a blood clot, such as dizziness, chest pain, and leg swelling
You usually don’t need to prepare in a special way for an MPV test. You may want to confirm with your healthcare provider whether you should avoid food or drink beforehand, especially if they plan to do other blood tests at the same time.
The MPV test is usually performed in your healthcare provider’s office or a diagnostic laboratory. If blood tests make you anxious, consider bringing a family member or friend along.
Talk to your insurance provider to understand whether they will cover the cost of your test if you have health insurance.
An MPV test involves taking a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm. The process usually takes less than five minutes.
During the Test
A healthcare provider or phlebotomist, a specialist trained in drawing blood, will likely ask you to sit in a chair. Then, they’ll take a blood sample from your arm, which involves these steps:
- They clean your skin with an antiseptic solution to kill germs.
- They wrap an elastic band on your upper arm, which limits blood flow and helps your vein swell.
- They insert a needle into your vein to collect blood into an airtight vial or tube attached to the needle.
- They remove the needle and band from your arm.
- They put a cotton pad or bandage on the needle site.
After the Test
You can resume your daily activities almost immediately after the test. If you tend to feel dizzy or faint after blood draws, though, consider bringing someone to help you home. Your healthcare provider may also recommend that you avoid lifting heavy objects for 24 hours.
MPV tests don’t have many risks. You may experience slight pain or bruising at the needle site, but these symptoms go away quickly.
In rare cases, you may experience more severe complications, such as excessive bleeding, infection at the needle site, or nerve damage. Talk to a healthcare provider immediately if you have these complications.
Your results may be available within a few hours or by the next day. You can often view your results on your healthcare provider’s or lab’s online portal, or your healthcare provider may contact you to discuss the results.
Interpreting Your Results
Results are usually reported in femtoliters (fL). This unit measures a very small amount of liquid, comparable to the size of a single platelet. Normal mean platelet volume results may range from about 7.5-12 femtoliters, but this range can vary based on different factors, including the lab.
A high MPV result suggests your bone marrow is making new platelets at an increased rate. A low MPV result suggests your bone marrow is not making enough platelets.
High MPV
A high MPV result suggests that your smaller, older platelets are getting destroyed rapidly, causing the production of newer, larger platelets. This may be due to:
- Thrombocytopenia: A condition where you don’t have enough platelets
- Preeclampsia: A pregnancy complication that causes high blood pressure
- Diabetes: A chronic disease affecting your insulin and blood sugar levels
- Hemolytic anemia: A type of anemia that happens when red blood cells are destroyed too early
- Myeloproliferative diseases: A group of blood cancers in which the bone marrow produces too many platelets or other blood cells
- Heart disease: Conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels
Low MPV
A low MPV result may suggest that your bone marrow isnt producing enough new platelets, so most of your platelets are smaller and older. This may be due to:
- Certain cancers: Including colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, kidney, lung, uterine, and other cancers
- Aplastic anemia: A type of anemia where your bone marrow does not produce enough blood cells
- Infections: Including many bacterial or viral infections
- Immune-related diseases: Such as Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus
- Alcohol use disorder: A disorder involving difficulty controlling your alcohol use
A mean platelet volume (MPV) blood test measures the average size of your platelets, which may help healthcare providers detect platelet-related issues and monitor some health conditions. It’s often performed as part of a complete blood count (CBC) test. It’s quick, and you don’t need to take any special steps to prepare for it.
