MPV blood tests are used to give your doctor information about the platelet production in your bone marrow. Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) is the number of platelets in a given volume of blood. It is a machine-calculated measurement on the average size of your platelets. New platelets are larger, and an increased MPV means that there is an increased number of platelets being produced. If you have any concerns or queries about your blood test then it recommended that you consult the doctor who carried out your test for more information and to explain the results.
Individuals with high MPV counts may show no signs of any other medical conditions, although others may have a more significant medical problem such as myeloproliferative disorder. Some patients with an increased number of platelets may have a tendency to bleed due to the lack of stickiness of the platelets. In others, the platelets may retain their stickiness but as they are increased in numbers, they tend to stick to each other and form clumps that can block a blood vessel and cause potential fatal damage (thromboembolism).
The platelet count is normally taken as part of a more general blood test. It is normally ordered if a patient has noticed that they have bruises that they are not aware of how they occurred or if any bleeding from cuts and wounds is taking an abnormally long time to slow down and stop. The test is most commonly used to detect diseases and disorders that lead to patients having a low platelet count, such as leukaemia, bleeding disorders or diseases in the bone marrow. The test allows doctors to see how many platelets there are present and whether they are functioning correctly. In a normal adult, it is expected that there will be between 150,000 to 400,000 platelets per microlitre of blood.
Individuals with high MPV counts may show no signs of any other medical conditions, although others may have a more significant medical problem such as myeloproliferative disorder. Some patients with an increased number of platelets may have a tendency to bleed due to the lack of stickiness of the platelets. In others, the platelets may retain their stickiness but as they are increased in numbers, they tend to stick to each other and form clumps that can block a blood vessel and cause potential fatal damage (thromboembolism).
The platelet count is normally taken as part of a more general blood test. It is normally ordered if a patient has noticed that they have bruises that they are not aware of how they occurred or if any bleeding from cuts and wounds is taking an abnormally long time to slow down and stop. The test is most commonly used to detect diseases and disorders that lead to patients having a low platelet count, such as leukaemia, bleeding disorders or diseases in the bone marrow. The test allows doctors to see how many platelets there are present and whether they are functioning correctly. In a normal adult, it is expected that there will be between 150,000 to 400,000 platelets per microlitre of blood.
