Dengue Test Price in Pakistan: NS1, IgM and CBC, and When to Get Each
Which dengue test to get and when: NS1 in the first 5 days, IgM after. Lab prices checked 3 October 2026, the 2025 caps, and where to ask for a free test.
Get the NS1 test in the first four to five days of fever, and the IgM test after that. A CBC for dengue checks your platelets, and it is the cheapest of the three. On 3 October 2026, Chughtai Lab's own website listed the dengue CBC at Rs 90, and NS1, IgM and IgG at Rs 3,450 each.
A fever in October sends many families in Punjab to the nearest lab with one question: which dengue test do we need? The wrong test on the wrong day can come back negative even when the patient has dengue. So the timing matters as much as the price.
We read the Dengue Expert Advisory Group's revised criteria for diagnosis, dated February 2026. This is the group that writes the dengue rules Punjab hospitals follow. We also read one large lab's own price list and test notes on 3 October 2026.
NS1 is for the first days of fever, IgM comes later
The NS1 test looks for a part of the dengue virus in your blood. It works best in the first four to five days of fever. After that, the IgM antibody test is the better choice. The CBC does not prove dengue, but it tracks how sick a patient is.
Chughtai Lab's own test notes say the same. They list Dengue PCR or NS1 antigen "within 4-5 days of fever onset", and Dengue IgM or IgG "after 4-5 days of fever onset". The PCR test finds the virus itself, but it costs about twice as much.
- Day 1 to day 5 of fever: ask for the NS1 antigen test, or PCR if your doctor prefers it.
- Day 5 onward: ask for the IgM test. For confirmation, IgG counts only when it rises across two samples.
- Every day or as the doctor says: a CBC for dengue, to watch the platelet count and haematocrit.
- Keep every report. The doctor needs the trend, not one number.
Count from the first day of fever. A negative NS1 on day seven does not rule dengue out.
Punjab confirms dengue with NS1, PCR, IgM or a rising IgG
Under the February 2026 criteria, a patient is a confirmed dengue case only with one of four lab results: NS1 antigen, PCR, IgM, or a fourfold rise in IgG between two samples. Low platelets and low white cells alone make a "probable" case, not a confirmed one.
| Case type | What the criteria require |
|---|---|
| Suspected | Fever of 2 to 10 days, plus two signs such as headache, pain behind the eyes, body or joint pain, rash, bleeding or stomach pain |
| Probable | A suspected case with platelets at or below 100,000 and white cells at or below 4,000 |
| Confirmed | A probable case with a positive NS1, PCR or IgM, or a fourfold IgG rise in paired samples |
The document adds one technical rule for labs. NS1, IgM and IgG must be done by the ELISA method, with a kit that covers all four types of dengue virus. A quick card test is not what the criteria describe, so ask the lab which method it uses.
Symptoms come first, though. The full list of dengue warning signs tells you when not to wait for any report.
A dengue CBC costs Rs 90 at one large lab
The CBC for dengue is the cheap test. Chughtai Lab's website listed it at Rs 90 on 3 October 2026. NS1, IgM and IgG were Rs 3,450 each, PCR was Rs 7,350, and a full dengue profile was Rs 9,800. Prices can change, so confirm at the counter.
| Test | What it shows | Listed price, 3 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| CBC for dengue | Haemoglobin, white cells, haematocrit and platelets | Rs 90 |
| Dengue NS1 antigen | Virus protein, early in the illness | Rs 3,450 |
| Dengue IgM | Recent infection, after about day 5 | Rs 3,450 |
| Dengue IgG | Past or repeat infection | Rs 3,450 |
| Dengue PCR | The virus itself | Rs 7,350 |
| Dengue profile | A bundle of dengue tests | Rs 9,800 |
We took these from the price shown on each test's page on Chughtai Lab's website. We did not visit a branch. Other labs set their own prices, and we only quote a lab's own published list.
The dengue CBC covers only four values: haemoglobin, white cells, haematocrit and platelets. The lab says results take 12 hours in major cities and 18 to 24 hours in smaller towns.
Official price caps were set in 2025, and 2026 is not confirmed
Punjab and Islamabad both capped dengue test prices in 2025, according to reports. Punjab set Rs 90 for a dengue CBC and Rs 1,500 for NS1, IgM or IgG by ELISA. Islamabad set Rs 1,500 until 31 December 2025. We could not read either notice at source.
The Punjab cap was reported in July 2025 as a Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department notification. We checked that department's list of 238 notifications on 3 October 2026, and it is not there. The Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority's advisory page showed no 2026 dengue rate notice either.
So we cannot tell you that a cap is in force today. The Rs 90 CBC rate does match the listed lab price above. The NS1 and IgM prices we found are higher than the 2025 caps that were reported. Ask the lab which rate it applies before you pay. If you think a Punjab lab or hospital overcharged you, the route for a complaint against a hospital or doctor in Punjab also covers private health facilities.
Government hospitals are the first place to ask for a free test
Start at a government hospital if cost is a worry. We could not find a 2026 official notice that says dengue tests are free at every government hospital in Punjab. So ask at the hospital's front desk, or call the Punjab health helpline on 1033 before you go.
The Punjab Health and Population Department runs Healthline 1033 around the clock. Its page says the helpline guides callers about dengue, typhoid, malaria and other illnesses. It is toll free.
- Tell the doctor which day of fever it is. That decides NS1 or IgM.
- Ask whether the lab uses ELISA for NS1 and IgM.
- Ask for a "CBC for dengue", not a full routine CBC, if only platelets are needed.
- Get a receipt that names the test and the price.
- Keep all CBC reports in date order.
Some free health programmes in Punjab may also help with hospital care. For local figures, the current Rawalpindi dengue cases and Karachi dengue cases show where the season stands.
Low platelets need a doctor, not another test
Do not order test after test on your own. Punjab's rules say a dengue patient with any warning sign, or platelets under 70,000, must be admitted. A falling count is a reason to see a doctor the same day, not a reason to pay for another lab.
The rules for when a dengue patient must be admitted list every warning sign. Danger often comes as the fever falls, not at its peak.
You cannot rely on a jab to skip all this. Qdenga is not registered with DRAP and Dengvaxia has been discontinued, so a dengue vaccine in Pakistan is not a practical option yet. So testing and early care remain the main tools.
Common questions
Which dengue test is best on the first day of fever?
The NS1 antigen test. It works best in the first four to five days of fever. PCR also works early but costs more.
What is the dengue NS1 test price in Pakistan?
Chughtai Lab listed it at Rs 3,450 on 3 October 2026. Prices vary by lab, so ask before the sample is taken.
Is the dengue CBC test Rs 90?
Yes, at least at one large lab. Chughtai Lab listed its CBC for dengue at Rs 90 on 3 October 2026, the same figure Punjab reportedly set in 2025.
Can NS1 be negative if I have dengue?
Yes, especially after day five of fever. That is when the IgM test is more useful. Your doctor may also go by your CBC and symptoms.
Is there an official price cap on dengue tests in 2026?
We could not confirm one. Punjab and Islamabad caps of Rs 1,500 were reported in 2025, and the Islamabad one ran to 31 December 2025.
Where can I get a free dengue test in Punjab?
Ask at a government hospital first, and call 1033 to check. We found no 2026 official notice listing free testing at every hospital.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 3 October 2026. We read the Dengue Expert Advisory Group's revised criteria for diagnosis of dengue fever, revised February 2026, for the case definitions and the ELISA rule. Prices and test timing come from Chughtai Lab's own test pages and answers on its website, read the same day. We read Punjab Healthline 1033's page on the Health and Population Department website. We searched the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department's notifications list and the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority's advisory page and found no dengue rate notice on either, so the 2025 caps are described as reported. The 70,000 platelet admission rule is from the Dengue Expert Advisory Group's revised 2026 admission criteria. This page is for information and is not medical advice.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
