With the development of new lab standards for the diabetes A1C test, the American Diabetes Association has begun to recommend its use as a screening tool for pre diabetes and diabetes. Prior to this the A1C diabetes test was used for the management of normal blood glucose levels. While a lab is required to make a diagnosis and should be used to measure baseline glycated hemoglobin, there are also Point of Care (POC) tests available to doctors as well as individuals for at home testing. It is important to keep in mind that POC test give variable results and thus should only be used for monitoring of treatment.
A1C Test for Diabetes – Calculating Results at Home
In an effort to simplify A1C test results in order to make them more understandable, results can be given as estimated Average Glucose (eAG), which more closely corresponds to the results of a daily blood glucose test. The eAG still reflects A1C average blood glucose over a period of two to three months so it should be kept in mind that results will still be different than a daily test. The formula to calculate eAG is:
28.7 X A1C – 46.7 = eAG
A1C results are given in percentages while eAG is measured with mg/dL. The ratio of the two measurements is more or less 1% A1C = 29 mg/dL.
Appraise Diabetes A1C Test
There are many at home A1C diabetes test available on the market making standardization difficult. The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry is responsible for setting the standards in lab testing, making HGB A1C the only measured substance, and is in the process of creating a standard measurement in POCs. Until these standards are in place, results can vary significantly from one system to another. A combination of the two forms of testing is the Appraise diabetes A1C test, available at major retailers and online. The Appraise test combines at home privacy and lab testing, allowing the patient to take a blood sample at home and send it to a lab for results. Unlike POC tests that give results within minutes, Appraise test results are available three days after the lab has received the sample. The Appraise lab is part of the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP) and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulated, per recommendation by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), with quick results available online. For individuals with healthy levels of blood glucose the ADA recommends twice yearly testing while individuals with poorly managed diabetes may need to be tested quarterly. The Alliance kit allows patients to stay on top of their testing though results should be discussed with a doctor.
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