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
Source: NLM MedlinePlus, American Association for Clinical Chemistry.
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