Reticulocyte Count Test Price in Pakistan: Rs 525 at Marham Lab
Also called
Reticulocyte CountRetic CountReticulocytesReticulocyte PercentReticulocyte Index
In short
A reticulocyte count costs Rs 525 at Marham Lab, down from Rs 750, and Rs 680 at Chughtai Lab. MedlinePlus explains reticulocytes are immature red blood cells, and that the count checks whether your bone marrow is making the right amount of red cells as old ones die off. A low count points to iron or B12 deficiency, while a high count points to bleeding or red cell destruction.
Prices are as listed on Marham, checked on 5 October 2026.
How booking works
1. Tap Book
Reticulocytes is added to your booking for you.
2. Pick a time
Give your address in Lahore and choose a collection day and time.
3. Sample at home
A phlebotomist comes to your address and takes the sample.
4. Get your report
Your report is ready in the time shown above, and you can see it in your Marham account.
What is the Reticulocytes test?
A reticulocyte count, often shortened to retic count, measures the number of reticulocytes in your blood. MedlinePlus explains that reticulocytes are immature red blood cells, made in your bone marrow and sent into your blood where they mature into red blood cells within one to two days. At Marham Lab a reticulocyte count costs Rs 525, reduced from Rs 750.
This Test Explains Why You Are Anaemic
Anaemia is extremely common in Pakistan, and a [CBC](/labs/tests/cbc-test-price) tells you that it is present. The retic count tells you something a CBC cannot: whether your bone marrow is responding.
MedlinePlus explains that your bone marrow constantly creates new red blood cells as your body needs them, and that a reticulocyte count checks whether the marrow is making the right amount as old cells die off. It notes that if you have too few, your tissues may not get enough oxygen, and if you have too many you could be at risk for blood clots or other health concerns.
That splits anaemia into two very different problems.
Retic count
What it suggests
What MedlinePlus lists
High
The marrow is working hard, so red cells are being lost or destroyed
Haemolytic anaemia, where red cells are destroyed faster than the marrow can replace them. New or ongoing bleeding, where the body is replacing what was lost
Low
The marrow is not keeping up, so production is the problem
Iron deficiency anaemia, which MedlinePlus calls the most common type. Pernicious anaemia from too little vitamin B12 or folate. Aplastic anaemia. Bone marrow failure from infection or cancer. Kidney disease. Cirrhosis
A low retic count with a low haemoglobin points towards a missing building block, which is where [serum ferritin](/labs/tests/serum-ferritin-test-price), [iron](/labs/tests/iron-test-price) and [vitamin B12](/labs/tests/vitamin-b12-test-price) come in. A high retic count points instead towards blood loss or destruction, which is a different investigation entirely.
When It Gets Ordered
MedlinePlus lists the reasons you may need this test.
Other blood tests show your red blood cell levels are not normal, including a complete blood count, a haemoglobin test or a haematocrit test
You are being treated with radiation or chemotherapy
You recently received a bone marrow transplant
It also lists the uses: diagnosing specific types of anaemia, seeing whether treatment for anaemia is working, checking whether the marrow is producing the right amount of red cells, and checking marrow function after chemotherapy or a bone marrow transplant.
Seeing whether treatment is working is worth noting. If you have been started on iron and the anaemia is genuinely iron deficiency, a rising retic count is early evidence that the treatment is taking effect, often before the haemoglobin has moved much.
Symptoms That Lead Here
MedlinePlus lists the symptoms of anaemia.
Shortness of breath
Weakness or fatigue
Headache
Dizziness
Arrhythmia, a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat
These are the complaints that usually bring someone for a CBC first. The retic count is the follow up once the CBC shows a problem.
Newborns and Rh Incompatibility
MedlinePlus notes that newborn babies sometimes have a reticulocyte count to check for haemolytic disease of the newborn, a condition that limits the ability of a baby's blood to carry oxygen to organs and tissues.
It explains this may happen if your blood does not match the blood type of your unborn baby, known as Rh incompatibility, which causes your immune system to attack the baby's red blood cells. MedlinePlus adds that you will most likely be tested for Rh incompatibility during routine prenatal screening, and that this screening helps prevent the condition by allowing early treatment.
That prenatal check is the [blood group and Rh factor](/labs/tests/blood-group-test-price) test, which is why knowing your Rh status early in pregnancy matters.
For a newborn, MedlinePlus describes a heel stick: the provider cleans the heel with alcohol, pricks it with a small needle, collects a few drops of blood and applies a bandage. It notes the baby may feel a little pinch and a small bruise may form, which goes away quickly.
An Abnormal Count Is Not Always Disease
MedlinePlus is clear that results outside the normal range do not always mean anaemia or another condition, and gives three ordinary explanations.
Pregnancy. Reticulocyte counts may be higher during pregnancy
Altitude. MedlinePlus notes you may have a short term increase if you move to a place at high altitude, and that the count should return to normal once your body adjusts to the lower oxygen levels there
Medicines. Some medicines may increase or decrease your count
The altitude point is worth remembering in Pakistan. Someone who has recently moved to or returned from the northern areas may show a raised count for reasons that have nothing to do with disease.
Reading Your Result
MedlinePlus notes that to understand your result your provider will consider your symptoms, your medical history and the results of other blood tests.
The report may be expressed as a percentage or as an index. MedlinePlus lists reticulocyte percent, reticulocyte index, corrected reticulocyte and reticulocyte production index among the other names, which is why two reports can look different while measuring the same thing. Read your figure against the reference range printed on your own report.
How to Prepare
MedlinePlus states you do not need any special preparations for a reticulocyte count. No fasting is required.
Bring your CBC report. This test is read against your haemoglobin, so the two together carry the meaning. Mention pregnancy, any recent time spent at high altitude, any iron or B12 treatment you have started, and any chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
What Happens During the Test
A trained phlebotomist takes a small blood sample from a vein in your arm using a small needle. MedlinePlus notes it usually takes less than five minutes and that you may feel a little sting as the needle goes in or out. There is very little risk beyond slight pain or bruising, which settles quickly. In Lahore the sample can be collected at your home at no extra cost.
Final Thoughts
The reticulocyte count is the cheap second question after an abnormal CBC, and in a country where anaemia is this common it deserves to be asked more often. Low means the marrow is short of what it needs, which sends you towards iron, B12 and folate. High means red cells are being lost or destroyed, which sends you somewhere else entirely. Bring your CBC, mention pregnancy or a recent trip to the mountains, and let the two reports be read together.
Common questions
A reticulocyte count costs Rs 525 at Marham Lab, reduced from Rs 750, with free home sample collection in Lahore. The same test at Chughtai Lab is Rs 680. It is billed as reticulocyte count, retic count or reticulocytes, and the price does not change with the name. The report is ready the same day.
It suggests your bone marrow is not keeping up with red cell production. MedlinePlus lists iron deficiency anaemia, which it calls the most common type, pernicious anaemia from too little vitamin B12 or folate, aplastic anaemia, bone marrow failure from infection or cancer, kidney disease, and cirrhosis. A low count alongside a low haemoglobin is what sends a doctor towards ferritin, iron and B12 testing.
It suggests the marrow is working hard to replace red cells that are being lost or destroyed. MedlinePlus lists haemolytic anaemia, where red cells are destroyed faster than the marrow can replace them, and new or ongoing bleeding, where the body is making more red cells to replace what was lost. In a newborn it may indicate haemolytic disease of the newborn from Rh incompatibility.
A CBC tells you whether anaemia is present. The reticulocyte count tells you whether your bone marrow is responding, which explains why. MedlinePlus notes the test checks whether the marrow is making the right amount of red blood cells as old ones die off. That splits anaemia into a production problem, pointing at iron or B12, and a loss or destruction problem, which needs a different investigation. Bring your CBC report to the appointment.
Yes. MedlinePlus states that an abnormal result does not always mean anaemia or another condition, and gives three reasons: counts may be higher during pregnancy, you may have a short term increase after moving to a high altitude which settles once your body adjusts to the lower oxygen levels, and some medicines may raise or lower the count. Mention pregnancy or recent time in the northern areas to your doctor.
اردو میں
ریٹیکولوسائٹ کاؤنٹ خون میں نئے بننے والے سرخ خلیوں کی تعداد معلوم کرتا ہے۔ یہ خلیے ہڈی کے گودے میں بنتے ہیں اور خون میں آنے کے ایک دو دن میں مکمل سرخ خلیے بن جاتے ہیں۔
اس ٹیسٹ کا اصل فائدہ کیا ہے۔ عام سی بی سی بتاتا ہے کہ خون کی کمی ہے یا نہیں۔ یہ ٹیسٹ اس سے آگے بڑھ کر بتاتا ہے کہ ہڈی کا گودا نئے خلیے بنا رہا ہے یا نہیں۔ اسی سے خون کی کمی کی وجہ سمجھ آتی ہے۔
اگر تعداد زیادہ ہو تو مطلب یہ ہے کہ گودا محنت کر رہا ہے، یعنی خون ضائع ہو رہا ہے یا خلیے ٹوٹ رہے ہیں۔ عالمی طبی معلومات کے مطابق اس کی وجوہات میں خلیوں کا ٹوٹنا اور جاری خون بہنا شامل ہیں۔
اگر تعداد کم ہو تو مطلب یہ ہے کہ گودا نئے خلیے کافی تعداد میں نہیں بنا رہا۔ اس کی وجوہات میں فولاد یعنی آئرن کی کمی، جو خون کی کمی کی سب سے عام وجہ ہے، وٹامن بی ٹوئیلو یا فولیٹ کی کمی، ہڈی کے گودے کی خرابی، گردوں کی بیماری، اور جگر کا سکڑنا شامل ہیں۔
یعنی تعداد کم ہونے پر ڈاکٹر فیریٹن، آئرن اور وٹامن بی ٹوئیلو چیک کرتے ہیں، اور زیادہ ہونے پر خون بہنے یا خلیے ٹوٹنے کی وجہ تلاش کرتے ہیں۔ دونوں صورتوں میں آگے کی تحقیق مختلف ہوتی ہے۔
ایک اور فائدہ۔ اگر آئرن کا علاج شروع کیا گیا ہو تو اس ٹیسٹ کی تعداد بڑھنا علاج کے کام کرنے کی ابتدائی علامت ہوتی ہے، اکثر ہیموگلوبن بڑھنے سے پہلے ہی۔
رپورٹ غیر معمولی آنے کا مطلب ہمیشہ بیماری نہیں۔ حمل میں یہ تعداد بڑھ جاتی ہے۔ بلند پہاڑی علاقوں میں جانے سے بھی عارضی طور پر بڑھ جاتی ہے اور جسم کے عادی ہونے پر واپس نارمل ہو جاتی ہے۔ کچھ دوائیں بھی اس پر اثر ڈالتی ہیں۔
ٹیسٹ سے پہلے کوئی خاص تیاری نہیں چاہیے۔ اپنی سی بی سی رپورٹ ساتھ لے جائیں، کیونکہ یہ ٹیسٹ اسی کے ساتھ مل کر پڑھا جاتا ہے۔ مرہم لیب میں اس ٹیسٹ کی قیمت پانچ سو پچیس روپے ہے اور لاہور میں گھر سے نمونہ لینے کی سہولت مفت ہے۔
