Learn your blood cell count with an RBC blood test that measures how many red blood cells (RBCs) you have in your bloodstream.
View our health packages and book a full body private health check. All our individual tests can be added to any of our existing health packages. Just call our team on 0800 652 2183 before your appointment to add an extra test.
Choose the venue, date and time that suits you. With over 2000 appointments available nationwide every week, you're sure to find a convenient time, date and venue.
A trained phlebotomist will carry out your assessment. The whole process only takes around 20 - 30 minutes.
Your results will be available 24/7 through our online dashboard, My Wellness. You will receive an email notification as soon as your results are ready for viewing. Processing times vary by test, with some results accessible on the dashboard in as little as three days. The online dashboard also provides easy access to a downloadable PDF, making it simple to share your results with your GP.
An RBC blood test identifies if the number of red blood cells you have is normal.
Measuring RBCs can help diagnose anaemia, a condition where the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells. A low red blood cell count is a key indicator of anaemia, which can have many root causes.
RBC blood tests can also be used to help diagnose other conditions that affect red blood cells, such as kidney problems, a type of white blood cell cancer, or problems with the bone marrow.
Symptoms of a low red blood cell count may include:
With severely low red blood cell counts, symptoms may include:
If your anaemia is mild or has developed slowly over a long period of time, you may not notice any symptoms.
Specific forms of anaemia may have different symptoms, depending on the cause.
An above-normal concentration of red blood cells is sometimes called polycythaemia, or erythrocytosis. This makes your blood thicker than it should be, causing the flow of blood to be sluggish, which can increase your risk for blood clots.
Many of the symptoms of a high red blood cell count are caused by the slower flow of blood, although sometimes people don’t experience any symptoms at all.
Symptoms of a high red blood cell count may include:
Having an RBC blood test is very simple. You don’t need to prepare for the test but it’s recommended that you stay well hydrated with water before your test. This is because dehydration is a common cause of high blood cell counts.
The blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm, as opposed to using a finger-prick blood test, because results tend to be more accurate this way. The test is relatively painless, except for a slight pricking sensation as the phlebotomist inserts the needle. The blood sample is then sent to a laboratory for testing.
Our full body private health checks are designed for busy people who want to take control of their health. Our tests are quick, accurate, convenient and completely stress-free. No waiting for an appointment, no invasive procedures, no embarrassing questions, no long travel times and no busy waiting rooms.
Trained phlebotomists carry out all tests in our 350 venues across the UK and Ireland, so you get accurate professional health checks within 20 minutes of your home. Our private health checks include all the tests you need to take a proactive approach to monitoring and improving your health.
Any individual tests can be added to any full body health check. Just book one of our full body private health assessments and call us before your appointment to add an extra test.
Call free on 0800 652 2183 to speak to one of our team.
All of our tests are carried out by trained phlebotomists in over 350 venues across the UK and Ireland. We only carry out in-person tests as this guarantees the accuracy of your test results and enables us to get your samples to the laboratory for testing quickly, therefore giving you results faster.
Generally speaking, it is considered that a normal red blood cell count in adult men should not be higher than 6.1 million cells/mcL. For adult women, a normal red blood cell count should be no higher than 5.4 million cells/mcL.
The reference values vary for other age groups, pregnant women and people who live in high altitudes, where the oxygen pressure is lower. If you live at a high altitude, the body produces more RBCs so the blood can carry more oxygen.
First, your doctor must determine the cause of your abnormal RBC count so that they can prescribe appropriate treatment, this may involve additional tests.
Treatment may include a vitamin or mineral supplement, a change in your nutrition, removal of excess red blood cells or replacement with red blood cells from a blood donor. Alternatively, it may only require changing your current medication or prescribing a drug to stimulate red cell production in your bone marrow.
A normal RBC count will vary according to your age, sex, and whether you are pregnant or not. The specific reference ranges may vary slightly between different regions, countries or laboratories.
It is considered that 4.7 to 6.1 million cells per microlitre (mcL) is a normal RBC count for adult men. Women usually have a slightly lower count of 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL.
The main function of red blood cells is to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide, from the lungs to the tissues and vice versa. Removing carbon dioxide from the body helps to maintain the pH of the blood.
Unlike most cells, red blood cells do not contain a nucleus and are biconcave in shape, which means they have a bigger surface area, giving them more room to store haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is a vital protein in the human body and has an important function. The main role of haemoglobin is to transport oxygen from the lungs to all cells and tissues in the body.
No, a low red blood cell count isn't always serious. For example, your RBC count may be low if you are pregnant or menstruating, or if you aren't getting enough iron in your diet. If you do have a low RBC count, depending on your results, you may need further testing to rule out more serious causes.
