What is HbA1C Testing?

HbA1C testing is a test that measures the long-term control of glycosylated hemoglobin. HbA1C is hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying molecule in the blood) which has bound glucose. While this binding occurs via enzymatic action under normal conditions, the kind of binding that accounts for HbA1C is non-enzymatic, depending only on the level of glucose and the time available for binding.

The level of HbA1C goes up with the glucose level, and thus a high HbA1C indicates that the level of blood glucose has been high over the last 3-4 months. In other words, it shows that the individual has poorly controlled diabetes mellitus.

Blood glucose meter, the blood sugar value is measured on a finger. Image Credit: Pittawut /Shutterstock

When HbA1C Testing is Done

The test is typically ordered at the time of initial diagnosis of diabetes and every 3-6 months following this diagnosis, according to some health guidelines. More frequent measurements are helpful if:

the diagnosis has been recently made (to ensure that the medications or lifestyle measures are working properly to reduce the blood glucose levels)
in those who show repeated high blood glucose levels
when the treatment is changed

Advantages of HbA1C Testing

HbA1C testing is now used to diagnose diabetes as well, though formerly it was used only to monitor patients already diagnosed. The HbA1C test is better in many respects than the traditional fasting glucose measurement or the oral glucose tolerance test for diabetes diagnosis because of:

its simplicity
its ability to be carried out at any time of day
the avoidance of fasting
the need for only one blood sample
its reliability both in diagnosis and in predicting the risk of certain chronic complications of diabetes

The blood for the test may be taken either from a vein (venipuncture) or from a finger (finger stick) depending on whether it is done at a laboratory or in the doctor’s office (or at home).

The Importance of the HbA1C Test

Diabetes mellitus is a killer disease, requiring careful and diligent management to reduce the danger of its multiple complications. If the blood glucose is effectively controlled from the time of diagnosis, the long-term patient outcome is better, even if control deteriorates over the later years. This means that the twin benefits of earlier diagnosis and better monitoring of blood glucose should cause better patient health. The convenience of the HbA1C test means that its adoption for diabetes detection can increase patient acceptance of testing as well as early detection rates, and thus better patient outcomes. On the other hand, its use for routine testing is more expensive than plasma glucose measurements which may be a constraint when health resources are scarce.

The primary importance of the HbA1C test is its ability to reflect blood glucose levels over a period rather than the particular moment of testing. This period mirrors the lifespan of the red cell which contains the hemoglobin, namely, 120 days. However, the level does reflect recent changes in the HbA1C value, because 50 percent of HbA1C is formed in the single month before the test sample is drawn, and 25 percent in the preceding month, with the remaining 25 percent reflecting the rest of the four-month period.

HbA1C Testing and Diabetic Complications

In 2010, HbA1C was taken up as a diagnostic test using this level of 48 mmol/mol as a cut off, which corresponds to a percentage level of 6.5%, according to American Diabetes Association recommendations. If the level of HbA1C is between 5.7 % and 6.4% the person is considered to be at increased risk for both diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and should be strongly advised to take up suitable lifestyle interventions to reduce this risk.

Each percentage of reduction in HbA1C levels causes a corresponding decrease in the risk of:

Heart failure – by 16 percent
Heart attack - 14 percent
Stroke – 12 percent
Amputation risk – 43 percent
All-cause mortality – 14 percent
Diabetes-related mortality – 21 percent
Microvascular disease – 37 percent

The test should be done using a NGSP-certified assay and repeated if the result is ambiguous. This is necessary to ensure laboratory-to-laboratory consistency and requires quality assurance programs to appropriate standards.

While handheld assays are not recommended for diagnosis they may sometimes be necessary as the only accessible option, but as a rule, the best available technology should be used.

Conditions which Interfere with HbA1C Testing

Any condition which increases the fragility of red cells, or which promotes non-enzymatic glycosylation of hemoglobin without high blood glucose levels, can cause false results from HbA1C testing. These include:

Reduced red cell lifespan in hemolytic anemias, chronic kidney failure, severe disease of the liver and any chronic disease associated with anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency and folic acid deficiency
Regular blood donation is also an artificial cause of shortened red cell lifespan

In such cases, another method of diagnosis should be used such as fasting plasma glucose levels. A discrepancy between two methods of glucose testing for diabetes should arouse the suspicion of any of the above conditions and lead to further diagnostic investigation.