Home › Biomarkers › MCV
MCV shows how large your red blood cells are on average. If they are too small or too large, this can point to a blood condition such as anaemia, a lack of certain vitamins or another medical condition.[1]
On this page you can read what MCV is, what the guidelines say about a low or high value, what affects your value and which values are best to look at alongside it.
Also known as: Mean Corpuscular Volume, Mean Cell Volume. At the lab: KBB.
MCV stands for mean corpuscular volume. It is the average size of your red blood cells.[1]
Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to every cell in your body. Your cells need oxygen to grow, multiply and make energy.[1]
For the test, blood is taken from a vein in your arm. You usually do not need to prepare in any special way. If more tests are being done on your blood, you may sometimes need to fast for a few hours.[1]
MCV is often part of the full blood count. This is a group of tests that measures the number and types of cells in your blood. It is used to check your overall health.[1]
There are different types of anaemia. Each type has its own effect on the size, shape or quality of your red blood cells. That is why MCV, together with other tests, can help work out which type of anaemia it is.[1]
A healthcare provider may also order the test if you have a long-term condition that can lead to anaemia. Or if you have symptoms such as shortness of breath, weakness or tiredness, headaches, dizziness or a problem with the rhythm of your heartbeat.[1]
Labplusarts, the laboratory BioProfile works with, uses a reference value for MCV of 81 to 96 fl. The lab calls a value between these limits normal.[2]
| Value | What it can mean | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| 81 to 96 fl[2] | The lab calls a value between these limits normal | The lab does not name a separate group |
Source: Labplusarts, the laboratory BioProfile works with. Reference value for MCV (KBB).[2]
If your red blood cells are smaller than normal, this can point to certain types of anaemia. For example, anaemia caused by iron deficiency, the most common type. It can also point to a group of inherited blood conditions. With these, your body makes fewer healthy red blood cells and less haemoglobin.[1]
If your red blood cells are larger than normal, this can point to anaemia caused by a shortage of vitamin B12 or folic acid. Or to a condition that disrupts how your body uses vitamin B12, such as certain conditions of the immune system or the gut. It can also point to a liver condition.[1]
BioProfile is working on its own zones for each value, from risk to optimal. A doctor reviews those zones before they appear in your result.
Your age and your periods can affect the result. So a value outside the normal range does not always mean there is a medical problem.[1]
What you eat and how active you are can affect the result. A shortage of iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid can change the size of your red blood cells.[1]
Medicines can affect your MCV. Talk to your healthcare provider about what your result means for you.[1]
You can also have anaemia with a normal MCV. This can happen with sudden blood loss, with a kidney condition or with a type of anaemia that is uncommon.[1]
MCV is included in all five packages, from BioProfile 31 to BioProfile 150.[3]
The BioProfile editorial team wrote this page on 1 October 2026 from the sources below, which we read on 1 October 2026. Every number on this page appears in one of those sources, with that source's number next to it. An expert is still to review this page; after that review, the expert's name and the date of the review will appear at the top. This page offers explanation, not a diagnosis. Discuss an abnormal value with your GP.
