Glycated haemoglobin - red cell
Last updated: Friday, 04, June, 2010
The item number and fee shown are for Australia only. The fee is the Medicare Schedule Fee.
Laboratories may in some circumstances charge above this fee.
MBS Online Search Page: Click here for details
| Item | Process |
|---|---|
| Specimen | 5 mL blood in lithium heparin tube. |
| Method | Chromatography, electrophoresis, immunoassay. Methods may be specific for HbA1c or may measure total glycohaemoglobin (HbA1). |
| Reference Interval | HbA1c: 3.5 - 6.0% |
| Application | Diabetes mellitus: monitoring of glycaemia over previous three months. |
| Interpretation | The result reflects the average glucose concentration over the life of the red cells although some methods give a falsely high reading if the patient is hyperglycaemic when the blood is collected. HbA1c levels <8% indicate good control. Levels will be lower than appropriate for the degree of diabetic control in the presence of a reticulocytosis. See also Fructosamine. |
| Reference | Krishnamurti U and Steffes MW. Clin Chem 2001; 47(7):1157-65. |