The mean cell volume (MCV) may be elevated for a number of reasons.
True (in vivo) elevation in the MCV (macrocytosis):
(1) macrocytic anemia
(2) reticulocytosis
(3) alcohol abuse
(4) drug-induced macrocytosis
Artifactual elevation in the MCV:
(1) prolonged fixation in EDTA
(2) marked leukocytosis (white blood cell count > 100,000 per µL)
(3) excess of glucose or salts (after being mixed with isotonic diluting fluid in analyzer)
(4) cold agglutinins
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Specialty: Clinical Laboratory
