How to Interpret MPV Blood Test Results

Blood work contains many markers that help indicate underlying health issues. MPV represents the mean platelet volume; platelets vary in size, with young platelets being larger than older ones. Platelets are essential to heal and protect the epithelial layers around organs and in skin. Understanding your blood test results will help you better understand explanations by your physician.

Instructions

• 1

  Obtain a copy of your blood test results.

• 2

  Seek the marker "MPV" on the report of your results. Normal platelet counts range from 150,000 to 350,000, and a normal MPV is in the 7.5 to 11.5 range. Anything below 7 or over 12 is cause for concern.

• 3

  Compare your results to the normal range. Many labs will print the normal range next to the actual test.

• 4

  Determine if the MPV is high, possibly suggesting high blood pressure or other heart conditions.

• 5

  Determine if the level is low. Low MPV may suggest major health issues such as leukemia, HIV or bone marrow cancers. Extremely low MPV levels create a great risk that a patient will have clotting issues in the event of a trauma.