Reference Values

Non diabetic: ≤ 5.6%
Pre diabetic: 5.7-6.4%
Diabetic:     ≥6.5%
 

Any cause of shortened erythrocyte survival will reduce exposure of erythrocytes to glucose with a consequent decrease in HbA1c values, even though the time-averaged blood glucose level may be elevated. Causes of shortened erythrocyte lifetime might be hemolytic anemia or other hemolytic diseases, homozygous sickle cell trait, pregnancy, recent significant or chronic blood loss.

HbA1c values may not accurately reflect mean blood glucose in patients with hemoglobin variants.  Hemoglobin varients can be detected with this method and the presence of variants will be noted in the report.  Identification of hemoglobin variants can be performed at a reference laboratory upon request.