CBC test: what it shows, normal values and price in Pakistan
What a CBC (complete blood count) test checks, normal values for haemoglobin, white cells and platelets, how to prepare, and how to compare CBC prices at labs in Pakistan.
3 min readUpdated 31 October 2026
This is general information only, not medical advice. Please always confirm with your medical consultant or a certified doctor before using any medicine, test or treatment.
A CBC (complete blood count) is the most common blood test in Pakistan. Doctors order it for fever, weakness, suspected dengue or typhoid, before surgery and in routine check-ups. In Urdu it is often just called khoon ka test. It needs a small blood sample from the arm, no fasting, and most labs give the result the same day.
You can compare CBC prices at labs near you, or see all lab tests and prices.
What a CBC measures
A CBC counts the three kinds of cells in your blood:
- Red blood cells (RBC) and haemoglobin (Hb): carry oxygen. Low values mean anaemia (khoon ki kami).
- White blood cells (WBC / TLC): fight infection. High values often mean infection or inflammation; low values can happen in viral infections such as dengue, or with some medicines.
- Platelets: help blood clot. Low platelets are the main thing watched in dengue.
The report also shows indices such as MCV, MCH and MCHC (size and colour of red cells, which help find the cause of anaemia), the differential count (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils) and sometimes haematocrit (HCT / PCV).
Usual adult reference ranges
Each lab prints its own reference range next to your result, and that range is the one to use. Typical adult values are:
| Test | Usual adult range |
|---|---|
| Haemoglobin, men | about 13 to 17 g/dL |
| Haemoglobin, women | about 12 to 15 g/dL |
| White cells (TLC) | about 4,000 to 11,000 per µL |
| Platelets | about 150,000 to 400,000 per µL |
| MCV | about 80 to 100 fL |
Children, pregnant women and people living at high altitude have different ranges. A value slightly outside the range is common and is not always a problem; your doctor reads it together with your symptoms.
What common results can mean
- Low haemoglobin with low MCV: often iron deficiency, very common in women and children in Pakistan. A serum ferritin test confirms it.
- Low haemoglobin with high MCV: can point to low vitamin B12 or folate. See the vitamin B12 test.
- High white cells with high neutrophils: often a bacterial infection.
- Low white cells and falling platelets with fever: can be dengue. Read our dengue guide and ask about the dengue NS1 test.
- High eosinophils: allergies, asthma or worm infections.
How to prepare
- No fasting is needed for a CBC alone. If your doctor ordered other tests at the same time (for example fasting blood sugar or a lipid profile), follow the fasting instructions for those.
- Tell the lab about recent blood transfusions or medicines you take.
- Many labs offer home sample collection, which helps for children, the elderly and patients with fever.
CBC price in Pakistan
The price depends on the lab and city. Big chains and hospital labs usually charge more than small local labs. On XpertMedico each lab sets its own price, and you can compare them on the CBC test page. You can also browse labs by city:
When to see a doctor quickly
- Fever with bleeding from gums or nose, black stools, or red spots on the skin.
- Very low haemoglobin with breathlessness, chest pain or fainting.
- A child with fever who is drowsy, not drinking or has fast breathing.
In an emergency call 1122 or see the emergency page for hospitals open now.
This is general information only, not medical advice. Please always confirm with your medical consultant or a certified doctor before using any medicine, test or treatment.