Hemoglobin (Hb) Test: Get Price, Purpose, Risks & Result [2025]
A hemoglobin (Hb) test is a medical test that measures the amount of hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body. Healthcare providers use the Hb test to diagnose and monitor conditions that affect the amount or quality of hemoglobin in a person’s blood, such as anaemia, sickle cell disease, and polycythemia. It can also provide information about a person’s nutritional status. The Hb Test cost ranges from Rs 50 to Rs 100.
Healthcare professionals perform the Hb test as a routine blood test in a doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital.
Your doctor may recommend a Hb test because of the following symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Pale skin
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Pain or discomfort in your chest (could be a sign of a heart condition)
- The inside of your lower eyelids appears pale.
- Cold hands and feet
Hb test details in brief
| Also Known As | Hb test, Hgb test, Hemoglobin Level Test |
| Purpose | To measure the level of hemoglobin in a person’s blood, which is important in diagnosing and monitoring anaemia and other blood disorders. |
| Preparation | No special preparation is required. |
| Fasting | No |
| Reporting Time | < 24 Hours |
| Cost | Rs 54 to Rs 140 |
Hb Test Price
Your doctor would usually order a Hb test as part of a CBC test which also includes Hemoglobin level.
The Hemoglobin Test Price usually ranges from Rs 54 to Rs 140. The actual price depends on the diagnostic centre and the city. Bookmerilab partners with more than 506 diagnostic centres across India. We provide a 10-50% discount on medical diagnostic tests.
Prices at Popular diagnostic centres
The table below lists the prices at some of the popular diagnostic centers.
| Name of Lab | Test Price |
|---|---|
| Redcliffe Labs | Rs 77 |
| Thyrocare | Rs 120 |
| Aarthi Scan | Rs 54 ( City-based ) |
| Dr Lal Pathlabs | Rs 140 |
| Mahajan Imaging | Rs 128 |
| City X-Ray | Rs 83 |
| PULSE IMAGING | Rs 105 |
| Janta X-Ray Clinic | Rs 72 |
| Vijaya Diagnostics | Rs 75 |
Cost in different cities
The Haemoglobin test cost depends upon the one recommended by your healthcare professional. The cost varies depending on the lab and the city.
| City | Test Price |
|---|---|
| Hb Test Price in Delhi | Rs 60 to Rs 130 |
| Hb Test Price in Mumbai | Rs 54 to Rs 140 |
| Hb Test Price in Bangalore | Rs 54 to Rs 77 |
| Hb Test Price in Hyderabad | Rs 54 to Rs 136 |
| Hb Test Price in Gurgaon | Rs 77 to Rs 143 |
| Hb Test Price in Chennai | Rs 54 to Rs 77 |
| Hb Test Price in Kolkata | Rs 54 to Rs 100 |
Hb Test Purpose
- Identify and track anaemia: Low hemoglobin levels might be an indication of anemia, a condition in which your body lacks enough red blood cells to transport oxygen.
- Check for and keep track of blood disorders: Abnormal hemoglobin levels can be a sign of various blood-related severe medical conditions like-
- Thalassemia– An inherited (i.e., passed from parents to children through genes) blood disorder caused when the body doesn’t make enough of a protein called hemoglobin
- Polycythemia vera– It is a type of blood cancer. It causes your bone marrow to make too many red blood cells. These excess cells thicken your blood, slowing its flow, which may cause serious problems, such as blood clots.
- Sickle cell disease- Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder that causes red blood cells to become crescent-shaped and break down more easily.
- Track therapy response: Healthcare providers can use frequent Hb tests to monitor the effectiveness of anemia treatments, including blood transfusions and iron supplements.
- Determine surgical fitness: Healthcare providers frequently use Hb tests to assess a patient’s surgical fitness and determine their risk of developing complications during and after surgery.
- Monitor long-term conditions: Long-term conditions that might alter hemoglobin levels include kidney disease and heart failure. Hb tests can assist monitor these conditions.
- Excessive bleeding after a wound or surgery
- It can be useful in assessing a person’s fitness level or ability to perform physical activity.
- Hb tests can help monitor the nutritional status of pregnant women, infants, and young children who are at higher risk of anemia due to increased nutrient demands or inadequate dietary intake.
Preparation
No special preparation is required for a hemoglobin test. You might need to fast for a few hours before the test (i.e., not eat or drink) if your doctor has requested additional testing on the blood sample you provided. In case, there are any particular instructions to follow, your healthcare provider will let you know.
Procedure
It is a fairly simple diagnostic blood test. Below are the steps to draw a blood sample from the vein in your arm or hand-
- A technician (phlebotomist) may tie a tourniquet (elastic band) to your arm.
- The phlebotomist will locate your blood vessel.
- Then the site is cleaned with spirit.
- A Needle is inserted into your vein to draw the blood.
- The blood sample is then withdrawn into a syringe or a vial.
- Cotton is placed on the puncture site with mild pressure till the bleeding stops.
- A small band-aid is then placed, which may be removed after an hour.
The entire procedure takes only a few minutes.
Risk
It is a very simple and safe test. The risks involved are the same as that of any other blood test. These include-
- Infection at the puncture site if proper sterilization protocol is not followed and the needle is contaminated. This is, however, very rare. You may ensure that your phlebotomist takes out the needle in front of you from a sterile pack.
- Multiple pricks if the blood vessel is not easily found
- Excessive bleeding at the puncture site- Please inform your healthcare provider if you are taking any blood thinners or have any bleeding disorders.
- Light-headedness due to stress or heavy bleeding.
Minor pain and bruising that might occur will resolve on their own in a very short time.
Hb Test Result
The normal range for hemoglobin (hb) is:
- For men, 13.2 to 16.6 grams per deciliter
- For women, 11.6 to 15 grams per deciliter
Low levels of Hb can be a sign of –
- iron deficiency;
- vitamin B-12 deficiency;
- folate deficiency;
- cancers of the bone marrow like leukemia;
- kidney, liver, and thyroid problems;
- as well as thalassemia.
A high level of Hb can be an indication of
- Polycythemia vera;
- Lung disease;
- Dehydration;
- Living at a high altitude;
- Heavy smoking; Burns;
- Extreme physical exercise.
| Gender | Normal Hb Range | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 13.2-16.6 | gm/dL |
| Women | 11.6-15 | gm/dL |
Sample Report
Conclusion
Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues and organs. The hemoglobin test measures the amount of this protein in the blood and can provide important information about a person’s overall health.
In conclusion, it offers valuable data that can help medical professionals in the diagnosis, surveillance, and development of effective standard therapy. Healthcare professionals can examine a patient’s treatment effectiveness and make any adjustments by routinely checking their Hb levels.
FAQs
A hemoglobin test is a blood test used to measure the amount of hemoglobin in the blood.
A hemoglobin test is done to diagnose and monitor anemia, blood disorders, and chronic conditions that affect hemoglobin levels.
A healthcare provider will draw a small sample of blood from a vein in the arm, which is then analyzed in a laboratory.
There may be some pain or discomfort at the site where the needle is inserted, but the test is generally well-tolerated.
Results are reported as grams of hemoglobin per deciliter (g/dL) of blood and can indicate whether a person has a normal hemoglobin level or if further evaluation and treatment are needed.
How To Book a Hemoglobin Test?
Dr Garima Saroj
Dr Garima Saroj is a dentist from Manipal college of dental sciences. She has previously worked at ESIC dental college and hospital Delhi and Dentecare multispecialty dental clinic Gurugram. She has a passion for writing for patient education and awareness.