MCV is an abbreviation for Mean Corpuscular Volume. MCV is a type of blood test that measures the average size of the red blood cells. If the red blood cells are too large or too small, it could be a sign of a blood disorder such as anaemia or thalassemia.
Doctors can suspect a person of thalassemia with abnormal MCV value. A report released by National Health Mission informs that beta thalassemia is quite prevalent in India. An average of 3-4% of people in India are the carrier of the illness.
In the answer below, we have discussed how MCV helps in detecting thalassemia and other related questions.
Why is MCV value important for thalassemia?
A regular blood test can suspect a person of thalassemia through MCV value. MCV test is often a part of a complete blood count (CBC) test – a test that provides full information about the cells of a person. This test can diagnose and monitor blood disorders and anaemia.
What is the MCV for thalassemia patients?
A low MCV value suspects a person of thalassemia. ucsfhealth.org informs that the normal MCV value is 80 to 100 femtoliter (fl). The American Family Association website informs that the MCV values for people with the condition are usually less than 75fl.
A research paper published in 2017 informs that the mcv value range for people with beta-thalassemia is 51.1-57.9 fL.
Why is iron deficiency anaemia confused with thalassemia?
Both health conditions are different but show similar symptoms. People with thalassemia also suffer from anaemia. Both of these conditions can be diagnosed through MCV value. A low mcv value can suspect a person of both conditions.
This is where more tests become mandatory to confirm the condition. The ucsfhealth.org website has shown that the MCV is usually less than 75 fl in thalassemia and rarely less than 80 fl in iron deficiency until the hematocrit is less than 30 percent.
A research paper published in 2009 informs that an mcv value lower than 80fl in the presence of normal hemoglobin can be due to iron deficiency.
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