Newcastle Laboratories

Mean Cell Volume (part fo FBC)

Clinical Background:

The MCV is a measure of the average volume of a red blood cell. It is determined by multiplying a volume of blood by the proportion of blood that is cellular (the Hct) and dividing that by the numb...

The MCV is a measure of the average volume of a red blood cell. It is determined by multiplying a volume of blood by the proportion of blood that is cellular (the Hct) and dividing that by the number of red blood cells in that volume. MCV is reported in Femtolitres (fL) and the normal range is 80 - 100 fL. It is part of a standard FBC and is used primarily to classify anaemia into Microcytic (MCV reduced), Normocytic (MCV normal) or Macrocytic (MCV raised)

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Test Details

  • Discipline:

    Haematology

    Haematology

  • Specimen Container Adult:

    Purple - EDTA

    Purple - EDTA

  • Specimen Container Paediatric:

    Light Pink - EDTA

    Light Pink - EDTA

  • Minimum Volume Adult:

    1.0mL

    1.0mL

  • Minimum Volume Paediatric:

    0.5mL

    0.5mL

  • Special Requirement:

    Ensure adequate mixing.

    Ensure adequate mixing.

  • Sample Stability:

    24 hrs

    24 hrs

  • Transport Requirements:

    Samples should be transported to lab without delay

    Samples should be transported to lab without delay

  • Freq Analysis:

    Continuous

    Continuous

  • Add On Test:

  • Quality Assurance:

    UK NEQAS Haematology

    UK NEQAS Haematology

  • Reference Ranges:

    The following should be used only as a guide as patient specific age and sex related ranges are available electronically.

    Mean Cell Volume 83.0 - 101.0 fL

    The following should be used only as a guide as patient specific age and sex related ranges are available electronically.

    Mean Cell Volume 83.0 - 101.0 fL

  • Other Info:

    As part of a full blood count.

    As part of a full blood count.

  • Routine Contact Name:

    RVI or Freeman Section Leaders

  • Routine Telephone:

    RVI: 0191 2820332, Freeman: 0191 2231195

    RVI: 0191 2820332, Freeman: 0191 2231195

  • Specialist Test:

    No

    No

  • Specialist Contact Name:

    Haematology and Haemostasis Healthcare Scientist

    Haematology and Haemostasis Healthcare Scientist

  • Specialist Telephone:

    0191 2139758

    0191 2139758

  • Specialist Email:

    alison.brown93@nhs.net

    alison.brown93@nhs.net

Availability:

All times, both sites

Turn Around:

Urgent within 1 hour.

Routine within 4 hours.

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