Anaemia & Iron Deficiency Test Bangkok — Ferritin, CBC, Iron Panel Prices (2026)

Q: My Bangkok check-up shows low haemoglobin — what should I do?

First, review the rest of your CBC: look at MCV (red cell size), then order ferritin + iron panel to determine the cause. Iron deficiency is the most likely cause (especially in menstruating women), but low MCV with normal or high ferritin in a Thai or Southeast Asian patient may indicate thalassaemia trait rather than iron deficiency — treating thalassaemia trait with iron supplements is unnecessary and doesn't raise haemoglobin. For mild anaemia: confirm iron deficiency with ferritin, start iron supplements if confirmed, recheck haemoglobin in 8–12 weeks. For moderate-severe anaemia (<10 g/dL): see an internist or haematologist in Bangkok (฿1,500–฿3,000) to investigate further before flying home.

Q: I have iron deficiency anaemia — can I get IV iron in Bangkok?

Yes — IV iron is available as a day procedure at Bangkok private hospitals. The most commonly used agents are ferric carboxymaltose (Ferinject — can correct iron deficiency in a single 15-minute infusion) and iron sucrose (multiple smaller infusions). IV iron is indicated when oral iron causes intolerable GI side effects, when haemoglobin needs rapid correction, or when absorption is impaired (e.g., bariatric surgery, coeliac disease, IBD). Cost in Bangkok: ฿2,000–฿5,000 per infusion. You may need only 1 infusion with ferric carboxymaltose to fully correct stores. Book via any Bangkok hospital's haematology or internal medicine department.

Q: Can I bring iron supplements or iron tablets home from Bangkok?

Yes — ferrous sulphate, ferrous gluconate, and ferrous bisglycinate are freely available at Bangkok pharmacies and hospital pharmacies without prescription. You can purchase a 1–3 month supply to take home. Generic ferrous sulphate (200mg × 30 tablets) costs ฿30–฿90 at Bangkok hospital pharmacies — approximately $1–$3, compared to $15–$30 for equivalent products in the UK or US. The iron is the same compound; generic is bioequivalent to branded products. Most countries allow you to bring personal-use quantities of non-prescription nutritional supplements through customs without restriction.

Anaemia and iron test prices in Bangkok (2026)

Diagnostic tests for anaemia and iron status at Bangkok private hospitals:

▸Complete blood count (CBC): included in all Bangkok health check-up packages; ฿400–฿800 standalone — provides haemoglobin, haematocrit, red blood cell count, MCV (red cell size), MCHC; the first-line anaemia screen
▸Serum ferritin: ฿300–฿700 — the most sensitive marker of iron stores; low ferritin = iron deficiency even before haemoglobin drops (pre-latent iron deficiency)
▸Serum iron: ฿200–฿500 — reduced in iron deficiency; also useful to check absorption if supplementing
▸TIBC (total iron-binding capacity): ฿200–฿500 — elevated in iron deficiency; transferrin saturation = serum iron ÷ TIBC × 100 (normal 20–50%)
▸Iron panel (serum iron + TIBC + ferritin): ฿600–฿1,200 — complete iron assessment; the preferred single order for iron deficiency workup
▸Reticulocyte count: ฿400–฿800 — measures new red blood cells; useful to assess bone marrow response and differentiate iron deficiency from anaemia of chronic disease
▸Peripheral blood smear: ฿400–฿800 — microscopic red cell examination; detects thalassaemia trait, spherocytes, schistocytes
▸Haemoglobin electrophoresis (for thalassaemia and haemoglobin variants): ฿800–฿1,500 — important in Southeast Asia where thalassaemia trait is very common (carrier rate 30–40% in Thailand)
▸Vitamin B12 + folate (macrocytic/megaloblastic anaemia): ฿600–฿1,500 each; important for vegetarians and vegans; B12 deficiency is the second most common nutritional cause of anaemia
▸Full anaemia workup (CBC + iron panel + B12 + folate + reticulocytes): ฿2,000–฿4,000

Understanding your anaemia result from Bangkok

How to interpret CBC and iron results from your Bangkok check-up:

▸Normal haemoglobin: men 13.5–17.5 g/dL; women 12.0–15.5 g/dL — Bangkok labs flag with L (low)
▸Mild anaemia: Hb 10.0–12.0 g/dL (women) or 10.0–13.5 g/dL (men) — most patients asymptomatic or mildly fatigued
▸Moderate anaemia: Hb 8.0–10.0 g/dL — fatigue, exertional shortness of breath, pallor
▸Severe anaemia: Hb <8.0 g/dL — significant symptoms; investigate urgently; transfusion considered at <7 g/dL
▸MCV (mean corpuscular volume) helps categorise: low MCV (<80 fL) = microcytic = iron deficiency, thalassaemia, lead poisoning; normal MCV (80–100 fL) = normocytic = chronic disease, early mixed deficiency; high MCV (>100 fL) = macrocytic = B12/folate deficiency, hypothyroidism, liver disease
▸Ferritin normal: men >30 ng/mL; women >13 ng/mL; optimal (non-deficient): >50 ng/mL; subclinical deficiency: 13–30 ng/mL; depleted stores: <13 ng/mL
▸Bangkok tip: thalassaemia trait is extremely common among Thais and other Asians (carriers have low-normal MCV and mildly low Hb without being iron-deficient); check haemoglobin electrophoresis to differentiate before iron supplementing unnecessarily

Anaemia treatment and iron supplement costs in Bangkok

Iron deficiency and anaemia treatment at Bangkok hospitals and pharmacies:

▸Ferrous sulphate 200mg (ferrous iron 65mg): ฿1–฿3 per tablet = ฿30–฿90/month — the standard first-line oral iron for iron deficiency anaemia
▸Ferrous gluconate (gentler on stomach — less elemental iron per tablet): ฿2–฿5 per tablet
▸Ferrous bisglycinate / chelated iron (better absorbed, fewer GI side effects): ฿5–฿20 per capsule; available at Watsons, Boots, hospital pharmacies
▸IV iron infusion (iron sucrose or ferric carboxymaltose — for rapid correction or oral intolerance): ฿2,000–฿5,000 per infusion at Bangkok private hospitals; same-day booking possible
▸Vitamin B12 injection (for severe B12 deficiency or malabsorption): ฿200–฿500 per injection at Bangkok hospitals or clinics
▸Folic acid 5mg (for folate deficiency or during pregnancy): ฿1–฿3 per tablet
▸Erythropoietin (EPO injection — for anaemia of chronic kidney disease): ฿1,500–฿4,000 per injection in Bangkok; 60–80% cheaper than in Western countries
▸Doctor consultation (haematologist or internist for anaemia): ฿1,500–฿3,000 same-day available at Bumrungrad, Samitivej
▸Bangkok advantage: generic iron supplements are extremely affordable — 30-day supply of ferrous sulphate costs ฿30–฿90 vs $15–$30 in the US

Frequently Asked Questions

My Bangkok check-up shows low haemoglobin — what should I do?▼

First, review the rest of your CBC: look at MCV (red cell size), then order ferritin + iron panel to determine the cause. Iron deficiency is the most likely cause (especially in menstruating women), but low MCV with normal or high ferritin in a Thai or Southeast Asian patient may indicate thalassaemia trait rather than iron deficiency — treating thalassaemia trait with iron supplements is unnecessary and doesn't raise haemoglobin. For mild anaemia: confirm iron deficiency with ferritin, start iron supplements if confirmed, recheck haemoglobin in 8–12 weeks. For moderate-severe anaemia (<10 g/dL): see an internist or haematologist in Bangkok (฿1,500–฿3,000) to investigate further before flying home.

I have iron deficiency anaemia — can I get IV iron in Bangkok?▼

Yes — IV iron is available as a day procedure at Bangkok private hospitals. The most commonly used agents are ferric carboxymaltose (Ferinject — can correct iron deficiency in a single 15-minute infusion) and iron sucrose (multiple smaller infusions). IV iron is indicated when oral iron causes intolerable GI side effects, when haemoglobin needs rapid correction, or when absorption is impaired (e.g., bariatric surgery, coeliac disease, IBD). Cost in Bangkok: ฿2,000–฿5,000 per infusion. You may need only 1 infusion with ferric carboxymaltose to fully correct stores. Book via any Bangkok hospital's haematology or internal medicine department.

Can I bring iron supplements or iron tablets home from Bangkok?▼

Yes — ferrous sulphate, ferrous gluconate, and ferrous bisglycinate are freely available at Bangkok pharmacies and hospital pharmacies without prescription. You can purchase a 1–3 month supply to take home. Generic ferrous sulphate (200mg × 30 tablets) costs ฿30–฿90 at Bangkok hospital pharmacies — approximately $1–$3, compared to $15–$30 for equivalent products in the UK or US. The iron is the same compound; generic is bioequivalent to branded products. Most countries allow you to bring personal-use quantities of non-prescription nutritional supplements through customs without restriction.