An MPV blood test measures the average size of platelets in your blood. Platelets are small blood cells that help with clotting and are made in your bone marrow. The test is often included in a complete blood count (CBC), which measures many different parts of your blood, including platelets. An MPV blood test is used to help diagnose or monitor many blood-related conditions, such as bleeding disorders and diseases of the bone marrow. It can also be used to diagnose other health conditions or find out how serious they may be.

Your healthcare provider may order an MPV blood test as part of a routine exam or if you have symptoms of a blood disorder that may involve having too many or too few platelets. These symptoms include bleeding that takes a long time to stop, even from minor cuts, nosebleeds, bleeding from brushing your teeth, and small red/purple spots on the skin.

Its important to note that MPV blood test results cannot confirm a diagnosis but are considered alongside other measures to help reach one. A high or low MPV doesn’t mean anything on its own and should be interpreted within the context of other CBC results, such as platelet count. Depending on your other CBC results, a low MPV could indicate inflammatory bowel disease, cytotoxic medications, or aplastic anemia.