Also known as: RBC Blood Test, Red Blood Cell Count Test, Erythrocyte Count
The short answer
A standalone red blood cell count — the RBC line from a CBC on its own, for re-checking a single result, measured from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $14.99 plus a $6 lab processing fee, needs no fasting, and results post in 1–3 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest.
TestWell Price
$14.99
+ $6 lab processing fee
The red blood cell count is the number of oxygen-carrying cells per microliter of blood. On its own it answers a narrow question — has a previously low or high RBC count changed — which is why this page exists: to re-check one number cheaply. For almost any other purpose the complete blood count is the better test, and it costs $7 more here: anemia is judged on hemoglobin and hematocrit as much as on the count, the red-cell indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW) say what kind of anemia it is, and the white-cell and platelet lines come with it. A low RBC count points toward anemia from blood loss, iron, B12 or folate deficiency, kidney disease or marrow problems — ferritin and B12 are the natural follow-ups; a high count can be dehydration, smoking, altitude, sleep apnea, testosterone therapy or, rarely, polycythemia vera, and hematocrit is the companion number clinicians act on. Measured on an automated hematology analyzer at Quest Diagnostics; no fasting is needed, and hydration status on the day shifts the result slightly.
Sample Type
Blood draw
Fasting
Not required
Results In
1–3 business days · typical; varies by lab and draw day
Performed At
Quest
Your Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count results will include values for each of the 1 biomarker tested, along with reference ranges. Results are reviewed by a licensed physician before being released to your secure portal.
If any values fall outside the normal range, your report will include guidance on what that may mean and recommended next steps. You'll receive an email notification when your results are ready, typically within 1–3 business days.
Typical reference range layout
Lab reports show where your value sits relative to established reference intervals—your physician interprets this in context for you. Already have results? Analyze them with your AI assistant against our physician-reviewed ranges.
No fasting required. Drink water normally — dehydration concentrates the blood and nudges the count up.
What can throw off this result
Physician-reviewed “Before your test” pages — what each factor does, for how long, and what to do about it.
TestWell orders the same Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count the labs run for doctors' offices, so you can walk into Quest Diagnostics with our requisition — no doctor's visit, a licensed physician authorizes the order, and most patient service centers take walk-ins. The table shows each lab's own test code, the name printed on the requisition, what the lab charges on its own consumer site, and the price through TestWell at that lab (plus one $6 fee per order).
| Lab | Test code | On the requisition | Lab's own site | Through TestWell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quest Diagnostics | — | “Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count” | not sold direct | $14.99 + $6 |
You choose the lab at checkout; the requisition is written for that lab and arrives by email within minutes. New York and New Jersey orders draw at BioReference. Lab-direct prices are read from the labs' public pages and re-checked regularly.
Where to get it near you: patient service centers by state and city · search by ZIP code
A Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count test costs $14.99 at TestWell — $20.99 all-in, since the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order and there is no draw or physician fee. Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $60.00 self-pay. With insurance you pay your plan's negotiated rate against your deductible; TestWell's price is fixed before the draw and HSA/FSA-eligible.
| Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TestWell (drawn at Quest) | $14.99 | $20.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order |
| Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $60.00 | $60.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher |
Competitor prices are read from the linked public pages and re-checked regularly; the labs' sites may add taxes or change prices without notice.
Compare more: Quest Diagnostics price list · Labcorp price list · Quest vs Labcorp · Lab test price checker
Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count test results are typically ready in 1–3 business days after your draw at Quest. TestWell emails you the moment they post, and your results dashboard shows each marker against its reference range with a plain-English explanation.
No, fasting is not required for a Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count test — you can eat normally and book any time of day. Drink water normally — dehydration concentrates the blood and nudges the count up.
Smoking and nicotine and recent blood donation can change a Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count test result without anything being wrong. Smoking and nicotine can raise RBC — tell the clinician; a high hematocrit in a smoker is usually smoking, not polycythemia. Recent blood donation can lower RBC — wait 6–8 weeks after a whole-blood donation for an anemia baseline. Each is explained on our physician-reviewed "Before your test" pages; when one applies, remove it and retest.
Order the Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count test online from TestWell for $14.99 (plus a $6 per-order lab processing fee) — no doctor's visit, referral or insurance needed. A licensed physician authorizes the order, then you walk into any Quest patient service center near you for the draw (the lab locator on our site lists the closest ones by ZIP code), and results arrive in 1–3 business days.
Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD · Last reviewed October 2026
TestWell Price
$14.99
+ $6 lab processing fee at checkout
No insurance needed · HIPAA compliant
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Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count
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