A glycosylated haemoglobin test determines the quantity of glucose (sugar) in your blood. The test is often known as A1c or HbA1c.
Hemoglobin is used in A1c testing. Hemoglobin is the component of red blood cells that transports oxygen throughout the body. Glucose glycates (sticks) to haemoglobin when it is present in the blood. The more glucose there is in your blood, the better it sticks. And it may stay there for three months, which is roughly the usual lifespan of a red blood cell. The A1c test determines the average amount of glucose linked to haemoglobin throughout time.
Category
Haematology
Prerequisite
You need 12 hours of fasting for this test
Normal Range
4.0-5.6%
<18 years: Hemoglobin A1c criteria for diagnosing diabetes have not been established for patients who are <18 years of age.
> or =18 years: Increased risk for diabetes (prediabetes): 5.7-6.4%
Diabetes: > or =6.5%
Type of sample to be collected
Blood Sample
