The HbA1c test, also known as the hemoglobin A1c or glycated hemoglobin test, is an important blood test that gives a good indication of how well your diabetes is being controlled. Together with the fasting plasma glucose test, the HbA1c test is one of the main ways in which type 2 diabetes is diagnosed. HbA1c tests are not the primary diagnostic test for type 1 diabetes but may sometimes be used together with other tests.
What is HbA1c?
The term HbA1c refers to glycated hemoglobin. It develops when hemoglobin, a protein within red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body, joins with glucose in the blood, becoming ‘glycated’. By measuring glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), clinicians are able to get an overall picture of what our average blood sugar levels have been over a period of weeks/months.
For people with diabetes, this is important as the higher the HbA1c, the greater the risk of developing diabetes-related complications. HbA1c is also referred to as hemoglobin A1c or simply A1c.
HbA1c testing in diagnosing diabetes
The World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests the following diagnostic guidelines for diabetes:
How does the HBA1c test work?
HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin, hemoglobin A1c) occurs when hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells, becomes bonded with glucose in the bloodstream. The bonding with glucose is called glycation. The higher a person’s blood glucose levels have been, the higher the number of red blood cells that will have become glycated, and therefore the higher HbA1c level they will have.
Because red blood cells in the human body survive for 8-12 weeks before renewal, measuring glycated hemoglobin (or HbA1c) can be used to reflect average blood glucose levels over that duration, providing a useful longer-term gauge of blood glucose control. If your blood sugar levels have been high in recent weeks, your HbA1c will also be greater.
Limitations of HbA1c tests
Whilst HbA1c tests are usually reliable, there are some limitations to the accuracy of the test. For example, people with forms of anemia may not have sufficient hemoglobin for the test to be accurate and may need to have a fructosamine test instead.
Being pregnant or having an uncommon form of hemoglobin (known as a hemoglobin variant) can also return an inaccurate HbA1c, while readings can also be affected by short-term issues such as illness as they can cause a temporary rise in blood glucose. Because of the way the HbA1c test measures blood sugar, if you have higher blood sugar levels in the weeks leading up to your HbA1c test, this will have a greater impact on your test result than your glucose levels 2 to 3 months before the test.
Take control of your HbA1c levels
A healthy diet and regular exercise can help you lower your HbA1c levels. After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Simon felt like he wasn’t provided with enough advice to treat his condition and wanted to find out for himself how he could lose weight.
Don't forget to routinely carry out HbA1c checks at health facilities such as clinical laboratories, hospitals, and health centers/health facilities that support HbA1c checks. One of our flagship products is using Sinocare PCH-100 HbA1c Analyzer. Sinocare PCH-100 HbA1c Analyzer offers a fast and easy way to measure HbA1c in a clinic or long-term care facility that prioritizes speed and convenience the results are certified by the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Protocol (NGSP) to ensure accuracy. PT Isotekindo Intertama is a distributor of Sinocare PCH-100 HbA1c Analyzer products which are official and registered at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia.
There are features and benefits of Sinocare PCH-100 HbA1c Analyzer:
- Samples from capillaries and veins (stored in EDTA, Heparin, and NaF tubes for a maximum of 1 week at a temperature of 8-12°C). Using Sinocare PCH-100 HbA1c Analyzer is easier for sampling, especially when it is not going to be used immediately
- The Sinocare PCH-100 HbA1c Analyzer blood sample required is small (5 µL)
- Fast measurement time (<3.5 minutes), Sinocare PCH-100 HbA1c Analyzer only takes <3,5 minutes to test the HbA1c
During the JKN-BPJS era, the need for quality products and results at affordable prices became an important factor in health services. So, Sinocare PCH-100 HbA1c Analyzer with the HbA1c checking method using Boric Acid Affinity Chromatography will be able to answer these needs. The service guarantee for the use of the Sinocare PCH-100 HbA1c Analyzer tool is also officially carried out by PT. Isotekindo Intertama and appointed official partner companies throughout Indonesia.
References:
- American Diabetes Association. (2019) Classification and diagnosis of diabetes: standards of medical care in diabetes.
- Insert Pack of Sinocare PCH-100 HbA1c Analyzer.
- MANAGING BLOOD GLUCOSE (2022). Guide to HbA1c.
