HbA1c, also called glycated haemoglobin, is a blood test that shows how blood sugar has behaved over time, rather than at a single moment. It is widely used to check for diabetes, to follow up a diagnosis, and to see how well blood sugar has been controlled over the past few months. Because the test is listed under several slightly different names, this comparison gathers HbA1c prices from the major laboratories’ own price lists on All Lab Tests, as listed in November 2026. Prices may vary by branch or city, so always confirm the final price with the laboratory before you go.
HbA1c Test Prices in Pakistan
| Lab | Test (as listed) | Price (PKR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chughtai Lab | Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) | 2,400 | Official Chughtai Lab rate; the All Lab Tests list shows PKR 2,100, so the official rate is used here. See the note below. |
| Dow Lab | HBA1C (Glycosylated Hemoglobin) | 890 | As listed. |
| Khan Lab | HbA1c | 1,200 | As listed. |
| Ibn-E-Sina Clinical Laboratory | HbA1c | 1,750 | As listed. |
| Dr. Essa Laboratory | Glycosylated Hb (HbA1C) | 1,880 | As listed. |
| Alnoor Diagnostic Centre | HbA1c | 2,100 | As listed. |
| Islamabad Diagnostic Centre (IDC) | HbA1c | 2,400 | As listed. |
| Aga Khan University Hospital | – | Price not publicly listed – confirm with the hospital | No single public individual HbA1c price is published for AKUH, so no figure is shown for this laboratory. |
Note on the Chughtai Lab HbA1c price: The All Lab Tests Chughtai list shows Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) at PKR 2,100, but Chughtai Lab’s own official test search lists Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) (code 4802) at PKR 2,400. Following the same rule as our CBC price comparison and our LFT price comparison, the official rate of PKR 2,400 is used in the table above.
Price Summary
The summary below uses only the prices in the table above.
- Overall priced range: PKR 890 to PKR 2,400.
- Lowest priced laboratory: Dow Lab at PKR 890.
- Highest priced laboratories: Chughtai Lab and IDC, both at PKR 2,400.
- Other priced laboratories: Khan Lab at PKR 1,200, Ibn-E-Sina Clinical Laboratory at PKR 1,750, Dr. Essa Laboratory at PKR 1,880, and Alnoor Diagnostic Centre at PKR 2,100.
- Aga Khan University Hospital: no price is included in this range, because no single public individual HbA1c price is published for it.
Unlike a panel test with several sizes, HbA1c is a single measurement, so the price differences here are between laboratories for the same kind of test, not between different panel sizes. Branch or city may still affect the final price.
What HbA1c Measures
HbA1c stands for glycated haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen. When blood sugar is higher, more sugar sticks to haemoglobin, and the HbA1c result rises. Because red blood cells live for about two to three months, HbA1c reflects average blood sugar over about that period, rather than the sugar level at the moment of the blood draw.
That longer view is what makes HbA1c useful. A single glucose reading can move up and down during the day with food, stress, illness or medicines. HbA1c smooths those ups and downs into one average, which helps doctors see the broader pattern. This is general information only, not a recommendation for any individual.
HbA1c Compared With a Fasting or Random Glucose Test
In plain words, the three tests answer different questions:
- Fasting glucose: your blood sugar after not eating for a set period, usually overnight. It shows the level at that one point in time.
- Random glucose: your blood sugar at whatever time the sample is taken, without a fasting requirement. It also shows one point in time, and food eaten recently can affect it.
- HbA1c: your average blood sugar over about the past two to three months. It does not need fasting, and a recent meal does not change it in the same way.
Doctors often use these tests together. A fasting or random glucose test can catch a high reading on the day, while HbA1c shows whether high readings have been a pattern. If the results point in different directions, a doctor may repeat a test or order further checks.
When Doctors Order an HbA1c Test
Doctors commonly order HbA1c when they need to check for diabetes, to follow up a result that was borderline, or to monitor blood sugar control in someone already living with diabetes. It is also used at regular intervals to see whether a treatment plan is working over time. How often it is repeated depends on the individual and on the doctor’s advice, not on a fixed rule in this post.
How to Prepare for an HbA1c Test
This section is general information only. HbA1c does not need fasting, so you can usually eat and drink normally before the test, unless your doctor has ordered other tests at the same time that do need fasting. It is still sensible to follow your doctor’s advice and the laboratory’s instructions, and to tell the laboratory about medicines or conditions that can affect red blood cells, because your doctor may take those into account when reading the result. Bring your doctor’s test request if one was given.
Reference Ranges: A General Guide
The bands below are GENERAL diagnostic reference values only, given to help you understand a report. They are not a diagnosis. Diagnosis is a doctor’s decision, and laboratories may report differently, so the reference information printed on your own report, and your doctor’s interpretation, are what apply to your result.
- Below 5.7%: normal range.
- 5.7% to 6.4%: prediabetes range.
- 6.5% or above: diabetes range.
A result in one band does not by itself settle a diagnosis. A doctor may repeat the test, check it against glucose results, and consider symptoms, medicines and other conditions before deciding. Reference ranges and reporting can vary by laboratory, so do not compare a result from one laboratory directly with a band from another source without your doctor’s help.
How to Get Your HbA1c Report Online
Most major laboratories in Pakistan now offer online reports through their websites or patient portals. This post does not state a report time for any individual laboratory, because timing varies by test, laboratory and workload. For the laboratory you used, check its own report page: Chughtai Lab online reports, Dr. Essa Lab online reports, IDC online reports, Dow Lab online reports, Ibn-E-Sina online reports, Alnoor online reports, and Aga Khan Lab online reports. You will usually need the details printed on your receipt or sample slip to access a report.
How to Choose a Laboratory for an HbA1c Test
No single laboratory is declared best here, because the right choice depends on your situation. Useful points to compare are: the total price for the test, which in this comparison runs from PKR 890 to PKR 2,400; how near the collection point is and whether home sample collection is available; and whether the laboratory’s report format and online access suit you. Because HbA1c is a single measurement, price differences here are between laboratories for the same kind of test, so a lower price is easier to compare directly than it is for a panel test. If your doctor ordered other tests at the same time, check whether those change the preparation or the total cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does HbA1c show?
HbA1c, or glycated haemoglobin, reflects average blood sugar over about the past two to three months. It does not show your sugar level at one moment, as a fasting or random glucose test does.
Do I need to fast before an HbA1c test?
No, HbA1c does not need fasting as general information. You can usually eat and drink normally before it, unless your doctor ordered other tests at the same time that do need fasting, so follow your doctor’s and the laboratory’s instructions.
How is HbA1c different from a fasting glucose test?
A fasting glucose test measures blood sugar at one point in time after a period without food. HbA1c measures the average over about two to three months, so it is less affected by a single meal or a single day’s reading.
What do the general HbA1c bands mean?
As a GENERAL diagnostic reference, below 5.7% is the normal range, 5.7% to 6.4% is the prediabetes range, and 6.5% or above is the diabetes range. Diagnosis is a doctor’s decision, and laboratories may report differently, so these bands do not diagnose anyone on their own.
Why is there no price for Aga Khan University Hospital?
No single public individual HbA1c price is published for AKUH, so this comparison shows no figure for it rather than estimating one. The note in the table is: Price not publicly listed, confirm with the hospital.
Full Laboratory Price Lists
For the complete test lists used in this comparison, see: Chughtai Lab test list, Dr. Essa Lab test list, IDC test list, Dow Lab test list, Ibn-E-Sina Clinical Laboratory test list, Alnoor Diagnostic Centre test list, Aga Khan University Hospital test list, and Khan Lab test list. Related comparisons on this site include the Vitamin D price comparison and the CBC price comparison, which are often ordered as part of a general health check alongside HbA1c, and the LFT price comparison.
All Lab Tests is an independent price-comparison website and is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any laboratory named in this post. Prices are those listed in November 2026 and may vary by branch or city. This post is general information only and is not medical advice; ask your doctor about which test you need and what your results mean.
