A mean platelet volume (MPV) test measures the size of your platelets. Along with other tests, an MPV test can help doctors identify health conditions such as anemia, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers.

Your blood contains several different types of cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Doctors order blood tests to examine these cells for signs of health problems. Understanding the results can help you understand your health status and whether you need treatment for any specific condition.

It is worth remembering that many factors can affect the MPV level, and a doctor will need to interpret the results in the context of other investigations.

Read on to learn more about what the MPV test involves, as well as what high and low MPV mean.

An MPV test measures the average size of your platelets. It’s closely related to a platelet count test, which measures the number of platelets in your blood. Doctors may order an MPV test as part of a complete blood count (CBC).

Platelets are small blood cells that play an essential role in blood clotting. When you cut yourself, for example, platelets stick together to stop the bleeding. In some cases, platelet abnormalities can be a sign of a bleeding disorder or other health condition.

MPV is typically between 7 and 13 femtoliters (fL). Having a high or low MPV outside of this range doesn’t mean anything on its own. It should be interpreted within the context of other CBC results, such as platelet count.

In most cases, your doctor will simply use your MPV test results to decide whether or not to do additional testing, such as a bone marrow biopsy.

It is important to remember that several things can affect your MPV, including age and diet. Your doctor will discuss your test results with you and whether they recommend additional tests.

Testing your MPV is an easy process. It typically happens as part of your routine checkup with your primary care physician.

To perform the test, a medical professional will insert a thin needle into your vein and draw your blood into test tubes. The pain should be minimal, but you may have some bruising and tenderness for a few days.

They will send the sample to the laboratory for testing. The complete blood count will provide information about the MPV, as well as:

A high MPV means that your platelets are larger than average. This is sometimes a sign that you’re producing too many platelets.

Platelets are produced in the bone marrow and released into the bloodstream. Larger platelets are usually young and more recently released from the bone marrow.

When someone has a low platelet count and a high MPV level, it suggests that the bone marrow is rapidly producing platelets. This may be because older platelets are being destroyed, so the bone marrow is trying to compensate.

Possible causes of high MPV include:

A low MPV means your platelets are smaller than average. Smaller platelets tend to be older, so a low MPV could mean your bone marrow isn’t producing enough new ones.

Depending on your other CBC results, a low MPV could indicate:

A mean platelet volume (MPV) test measures the average size of your platelets. While closely related, it’s different from the platelet count. You can have a combination of a high MPV and a low platelet count, or a low MPV and a high platelet count.

Possible causes of high MPV include preeclampsia, heart disease, diabetes, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and myeloproliferative diseases. Low MPV can happen due to infections, autoimmune conditions, aplastic anemia, alcohol use disorder, some cancers, and certain medications.

On its own, a high or low MPV doesn’t necessarily mean anything about your risk of having cancer or a certain type of condition. Based on other results from your CBC, your doctor may order additional tests to rule out any possible underlying conditions.