DL-973: Hemoglobin A1c test/Hemoglobinopathies,1CE

Amy Fang - Graduate Student in Clinical Science - California State University, Dominguez Hills Ellen Hope Kearns, Ph.D. - Professor, College of Health & Human Services - California State University, Dominguez Hills Helen M. Sowers, M.A., CLS - Dept. of Biological Science (retired) - California State University, East Bay Approved for 1.0 CE Level of Difficulty: Intermediate CAMLT is approved by the California Department of Public Health as a CA CLS Accrediting Agency (#21) Hemoglobin A1c is the most useful single index of blood glucose control available to diabetics. Increased HbA1c is closely linked to risk of long-term microvascular diabetic complications (1). HbA1c is measured in the laboratory using a variety of methods. The presence of hemoglobinopathies in a patient presents a confounder to HbA1c testing, yielding erroneous laboratory test results. Beginning with a description of HbA1c and its relationship to blood glucose followed by methods of testing for HbA1c in the laboratory, this course focuses on the problematic aspects of testing for HbA1c in a patient with a hemoglobinopathy using each of these methods. General conclusions, limitations, and recommendations for testing are given.