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Mean Corpuscular Volume
Sandra L. Fischer, MD;
Sharon P. Fischer, MD
Arch Intern Med. 1983;143(2):282-283.
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| Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings. |
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Of the three time-honored RBC indices, it is only the mean corpuscular volume, (MCV) index that is alive and well. It is measured today directly by the automated instruments. It permits computation of the hematocrit reading (MCV x number of RBCs) as opposed to the preautomation era when the hematocrit reading was measured and the MCV calculated. The MCV allows a useful morphologic differential diagnosis of microcytic and macrocytic anemias.
In contradistinction, the other two indices, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) are of questionable use. The MCH, also calculated by automated instruments, varies in strict linear relationship with the MCV (Fig 1). It does not, therefore, offer any additional information over the MCV value. However, the MCHC is practically constant (Fig 2) with a mean of 34.8 ± 1.53 (mean ± SD).
A low MCHC, traditionally the characteristic feature of iron deficiency, is not seen
. . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]
Author Affiliations
From the Department of Pathology, Graduate Hospital (Dr S. L. Fischer), and the Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology, Episcopal Hospital, and the Department of Medicine, Temple University (Dr S. P. Fischer), Philadelphia. Dr S. L. Fischer is now with Jeanes Hospital, Philadelphia.
Footnotes
Accepted for publication Sept 8, 1982.
Reprint requests to the Department of Pathology, Jeanes Hospital, 7600 Central Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19111 (Dr S. L. Fischer).
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