Blood Disorders Understanding Low MPV Results By Julie Scott, MSN, ANP-BC, AOCNP Julie Scott, MSN, ANP-BC, AOCNP LinkedIn Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner and freelance healthcare writer with over a decade of medical oncology and hematology experience. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 21, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Yasmine Ali, MD, is board-certified in cardiology. She is an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and an award-winning physician writer. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What Is MPV? Low MPV Test Results Causes of Low MPV Frequently Asked Questions "MPV" stands for mean platelet volume and is a measure of the size of your platelets. Platelets, or thrombocytes, are fragments of cells in the blood. They help the blood to clot and repair damaged blood vessel walls in order to stop or prevent bleeding. MPV is often tested as part of a platelet count measuring the number of platelets in a sample of blood, or as part of a complete blood count (CBC). This article will review low MPV results and what they mean. Getty Images What Is MPV? The mean platelet volume is the measure of the size of the platelets in the blood. The size of the platelets is reported as femtoliters, and a normal MPV is 8–12 femtoliters. The MPV also is an indicator of how active platelets are. Obtaining an MPV can be helpful when looking into the causes of platelet disorders such as thrombocytopenia, or low platelet counts, or thrombocytosis, which is an elevation in platelet counts. Low MPV Test Results To test the MPV, a sample of blood is taken from a vein, most often in the hand or arm. The blood is collected into a sample tube and is then analyzed by a specialized machine. A report showing that the MPV is less than 8 femtoliters means the platelets are small in size. Small platelets are generally older platelets, as new platelets that are released into the circulation are typically larger. Low MPV and Platelet Count When evaluating the MPV, it is important to know that an MPV level on its own is not diagnostic of anything in particular. Instead, the reading needs to be looked at in the context of the total number of platelets compared to their size. The MPV can decrease despite the number of platelets that are found. Low MPV and Low Platelet Count When thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) is present with a low MPV, it can indicate that the low platelet counts are due to the bone marrow not functioning properly. An abnormally functioning bone marrow can be found in conditions such as aplastic anemia, when your bone marrow stops producing enough blood cells. Low MPV and High Platelet Count A higher-than-normal platelet count (thrombocytosis) can be caused by a variety of factors. However, when thrombocytosis occurs with a low MPV, it is likely due to a reaction to something else, such as inflammation, infection, or cancer. Low MPV and Normal Platelet Count The size of the platelets can be small, resulting in a low MPV, even if the platelet count is normal. This is often the case in people living with kidney disease. It can also be seen as a side effect of some medications. Causes of Low MPV Multiple conditions can cause a low MPV. These conditions include: Bone marrow failure Aplastic anemia Inflammation or autoimmune diseases Infections Cancer Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen) A Word From Verywell When reviewing blood tests, the MPV is only one of many blood tests performed. The MPV in and of itself does not diagnose any specific disease or disorder but is looked at in combination with other blood tests to come up with a diagnosis. If you have any questions about any of your blood tests, you should check with your healthcare provider for answers and clarification. Frequently Asked Questions What is low MPV in a blood test? The MPV is a measure of the size of the platelets in the blood. Platelets play an important role in preventing bleeding and healing blood vessel walls. When an MPV is low, the size of the platelets is smaller than average. What causes low MPV levels? Low MPV levels can result for multiple reasons. Some of these causes are bone marrow dysfunction, cancer, inflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases, infections, and an enlarged spleen. What does a high MPV mean? A high MPV means that platelets are larger than average. Combined with other blood tests, a high MPV may indicate a medical condition such as:Heart diseaseDiabetesThrombocytopenia (a low platelet count)Myeloproliferative disease (a type of blood cancer)Preeclampsia (a pregnancy complication that causes high blood pressure) Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 3 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. MedlinePlus. MPV blood test. Schmoeller D, Picarelli MM, Paz Munhoz T, Poli de Figueiredo CE, Staub HL. Mean platelet volume and immature platelet fraction in autoimmune disorders. Front Med. 2017;0. doi:10.3389/fmed.2017.00146 Lab Tests Online. Platelet count.