MPV Blood Test: Understanding Its Importance and Results
By Dr. Shubham Pandey +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Shubham Pandey
Last updated: May 3, 2024Click to rate this article!
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By Dr. Shubham Pandey +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Shubham Pandey
Last updated: May 3, 2024Table of Contents
Platelets are the cells in your blood that help in clotting and repairing wounds. Well, it is necessary to check their health. That’s where the Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) blood test comes into picture.
In this article, we’ll explore the world of MPV blood tests. We’ll learn what MPV is, how to get ready for the test, analyze the results, and see what happens when the levels are not right. Lastly, we will answer some questions associated with this topic.
In this section, we will try to understand MPV and its role in maintaining our health.
The Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) is a laboratory finding. It measures the average size of platelets present in your blood. These small, colourless cell fragments are crucial for clotting, wound repair, and fending off infection. They take birth in the bone marrow and then enter the bloodstream. The MPV test gives us the information regarding any abnormality in platelet size. This helps us to detect any issue that may be affecting these cells.
The following are the reasons why the MPV test is done.
Did you know?
The procedure involved in conducting the MPV test is quite simple and is explained in the section below.
For an MPV blood test, you don’t need to do anything special. Have a discussion with your doctor in case they advise any other test along with MPV that might require any special preparation like fasting. Also, you need to disclose your current health conditions, family history, and the drugs and supplements you may be currently on, as they may influence the results of the test.
The MPV blood test is easy and quick. A phlebotomist takes blood from your arm vein with a needle, while maintaining hygiene. They save the sample in a test tube. Once done, remove the needle and apply a bandage on your arm. The entire process is over in a few minutes with maybe slight discomfort or bruising at the site of needle puncture.
After the test, they send the blood sample to a laboratory where they check your MPV. Once the laboratory report is ready, your healthcare provider shares it with you. It’s important to discuss the results with them. This will give you a clear picture of your overall health.
Your MPV blood test results can show high or low MPV. The causes and possible issues due to abnormal MPV are discussed below.
If your MPV result shows higher than the normal range (more than 12 femtoliters), it might be due to the following.
Some types of cancer can lead to an increase in platelet size, causing a rise in MPV. But don’t worry as high MPV doesn’t always mean you have cancer. If there is a history of cancer in your family or other risk factors, further testing may be suggested by your doctor.
Apart from cancer, many other factors can make your MPV increase. The potential causes are as follows.
On the flip side, a low MPV (less than 8 femtoliters) hints that your platelets are mostly old. This is because the production of new platelets in your bone marrow has slowed down. Some common causes of low MPV are as follows.
High MPV can lead to blood clot formation. This is because larger platelets are more active. Increased blood clots bring risks such as stroke or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). A low MPV might mean more bleeding or bruising. This is because smaller, older platelets may not work as well.
Remember high or low MPV levels alone cannot decide anything. Your healthcare provider will use all factors including your past health and other test results to find out what’s causing the abnormal MPV levels.
Certain studies indicate that MPV may be higher in COVID-19-positive people than in COVID-19-negative people. However, more research is needed to completely understand the association between the results of an MPV blood test and the severity of COVID-19 infection.
Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D
Thrombocytopenia is when you have a low platelet count.
Thrombocytopenia happens when your blood has fewer platelets than normal. Since platelets help in clotting, a low count of platelets can cause excess bleeding or easy bruising.
To find out if you have thrombocytopenia, doctors conduct a complete blood count (CBC) test. It includes a platelet count and MPV check. If results show thrombocytopenia, more tests may be done to find the root cause. These may include a bone marrow biopsy or other blood tests.
The management for thrombocytopenia depends on how severe it is, and its causes.
Doctors may give medicines to raise platelet production or they may give medicine to slow down the immune system if that’s causing thrombocytopenia. Some common medicines used include corticosteroids or immunoglobulins.
Those with thrombocytopenia should be careful to avoid injuries and bleeding risk. So, it’s important to watch your physical activities, take care with medicines that can make bleeding worse (for example, blood thinners or NSAIDs), and live a healthy life to boost overall wellness.
Research has indicated that stress, both emotional and physical, might have an impact on platelet count. Heavy exercise for an extended period of time can raise MPV. Higher-than-normal MPV is possible in people with panic disorders.
Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS
In your appointment, your healthcare provider will go over your past health, current symptoms, and test results. They might order more testing if needed. You should get ready to discuss any concerns, answer questions about your lifestyle, medicines you are currently taking, and about your family medical history.
It’s a good plan to prepare a list of questions for your healthcare provider. These could the following.
Also Read: CRP Test Report: Interpreting Results and Their Medical Implication
Getting to know your MPV blood test results is key for maintaining health. This article gives a complete and easy-to-understand guide to help you understand MPV tests, their weightage, and what it means when results are not normal.
While MPV can hint at health issues, it’s always important to consult with a healthcare expert. They will help put the results in context and may order more test.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If your MPV is high, it suggests that your platelets are larger than normal. This might be due to many reasons such as cancer, recovering from injuries, heart disease, and more. Your healthcare provider will consider all factors to find out the real reason for the high MPV.
A low MPV suggests that most of your platelets are old. This hints that your bone marrow production of new platelets has reduced. The reason could be bone marrow failure, lupus, chemotherapy, hypothyroidism, iron deficiency anaemia, or HIV/AIDS among others.
For women, usual MPV levels are between 8-12 femtoliters. But always consult a healthcare expert to correctly understand your MPV result and what it means for your health.
Some cancers that hit the bone marrow, such as leukaemia or lymphoma, might cause low MPV. They disrupt the normal process of producing platelets. Remember only measuring MPV can’t tell for sure if it’s cancer. An in-depth examination by a healthcare expert is needed.
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