MPV Blood Test: Process, High MPV, Low MPV Meaning - Healthline

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HealthlineSubscribeUnderstanding Your MPV Test Results

Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — Written by Corinne O'Keefe Osborn — Updated on June 20, 2025

What is MPV?
Process
High MPV
Low MPV
Takeaway

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.

What is MPV?

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.

MPV testing process

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:

platelet levels
red blood cell levels
white blood cell levels
hematocrit levels
hemoglobin levels
mean corpuscular volume (MCV) levels

High MPV meaning

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:

preeclampsia, a condition during pregnancy
heart disease
diabetes
hemolytic anemia
thrombocytopenia
myeloproliferative disorders

Low MPV meaning

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:

bacterial infection
viral infection
aplastic anemia
autoimmune conditions
alcohol use disorder
certain cancers
a side effect of some medications, such as chemotherapy drugs

The bottom line

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.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Blood tests. (2022).https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/blood-tests
Korniluk A, et al. (2019). Mean platelet volume (MPV): New perspectives for an old marker in the course and prognosis of inflammatory conditions.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2019/9213074
MPV blood test. (2024).https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/mpv-blood-test/

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Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — Written by Corinne O'Keefe Osborn — Updated on June 20, 2025

MPV Blood Test: Process, High MPV, Low MPV Meaning - Healthline

What is MPV?

MPV testing process

High MPV meaning

Low MPV meaning

The bottom line

How we reviewed this article:

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