HbA1C Test: Introduction, Test Result, Unit, Normal Range, Testing Method, Clinical Significance, and Keynotes

Introduction of HbA1C Test

HbA1c refers to glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) which shows average plasma glucose concentration. It develops when hemoglobin, a protein within red blood cells (RBCs) that carries oxygen throughout the body, attaches to glucose in the blood, becoming ‘glycated’. By testing HbA1c, clinicians (doctors) are able to get an overall idea of what the average blood glucose level has been over a period of 2/3 months. Diabetic people with higher HbA1c are at a greater risk of developing diabetes-related complications like heart disease, kidney disease, and nerve damage and thus it is mandatory for diabetic control for healthy and longer life.

HbA1C Test-Test Result, Unit, Normal Range, Testing Method, and Clinical Significance

Keynotes on HbA1C Test

• Some clinical conditions like anemia or another type of blood disorder, Kidney failure, and liver disease directly affect our red blood cells and thus no doubt, HbA1C test results can be affected. In this situation, clinicians may recommend different tests to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes.
• HbA1c and glucose blood levels relation table-

Average Blood Glucose (mmol/L)	HbA1c (mmol/mol)	HbA1c (%)
5	31	5
7	42	6
8	53	7
10	64	8
12	75	9
13	86	10
15	97	11
17	108	12
18	119	13

• The percentage way of reporting glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values are known as the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) unit which is old. The new mmol/mol values are known as the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) units.
• Diabetic microvascular complications are retinopathy, neuropathy, and diabetic nephropathy.
• There is no special preparation for HbA1C test blood collection. It can be collected at any time but blood is collected in an EDTA vial.
• Some common symptoms of diabetes are feeling very thirsty, urinating a lot, weight loss, feeling very hungry, blurred vision, numb or tingling hands or feet, dry skin, fatigue, sores that heal slowly and having more infections than usual. People the age of 45 years or any of the diabetes symptoms ( mentioned above) can request for HbA1C test.
• The range of test reports may vary slightly from laboratory to laboratory due to using different equipment.

HbA1C blood test using Nycocard Reader

Further Readings

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4933534/
• https://www.diabetes.co.uk/what-is-hba1c.html
• https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/70523/WHO_NMH_CHP_CPM_11.1_eng.pdf
• https://medcraveonline.com/JNMR/laboratory-diagnosis-of-hba1c-a-review.html