What Is MPV in a Blood Test?

MPV stands for Mean Platelet Volume. It measures the average size of your platelets — the small cell fragments responsible for blood clotting. Larger platelets are younger and more active.

Normal Range

• 7.5–11.5 fL for adults
• Higher = younger, larger platelets
• Lower = older, smaller platelets

High MPV Causes

• Increased platelet destruction (immune thrombocytopenia)
• Recent surgery or trauma
• Cardiovascular risk — larger platelets are more clot-active
• Hyperthyroidism
• Myeloproliferative disorders

Low MPV Causes

• Bone marrow suppression (chemotherapy)
• Aplastic anemia
• Certain medications
• Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (rare genetic)

Clinical Context

• High MPV + Low platelet count = marrow compensating for platelet loss
• Low MPV + Low platelet count = production failure
• MPV alone does not diagnose — interpret with platelet count and clinical context