How is the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) calculated?

The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is calculated using the formula that takes into account the hematocrit (Hct) and the red blood cell count (RBC). The correct formula for calculating MCV is (Hct x 10)/RBC. In this equation, the hematocrit represents the proportion of blood volume that is occupied by red blood cells, and multiplying it by 10 converts the unit to femtoliters (fL), which is the standard unit for MCV. By dividing this value by the RBC count, you obtain the average volume of individual red blood cells in the bloodstream.

Understanding MCV is crucial in hematology as it helps in characterizing types of anemia, and provides insight into red blood cell size and volume, which are important for diagnosing and managing various hematological conditions. The other options do not represent the correct calculation for MCV, focusing instead on different relationships among hematological parameters.