I have been testing for HbA1c on a regular basis. Three weeks ago I had 7.4; 1 week later it had gone down to 7.2. That was in the UK. Now I am in Malta and paid for a further test. The result does not make any sense:
H 4.8 % Reference range 2.9 - 4.2
I called the lab and they say this is the way their Roche kit works.
How can HbA1c treat 4.2 as the top limit when we all know that it should be around 5.5; and more to the point, how can I be 4.8 when I should be around 6.5 (hopefully)
Is there some conversion factor with the Roche kits?
Thank you
qim
PS. In fact, since writing the above I found the following site that explains the situation. What it does not say is how I can translate the IFCC (2.9-4.2) range to the DCCT/NGSP (4.8-5.9), which is perhaps what is used in the UK
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/31/8/1704.full
H 4.8 % Reference range 2.9 - 4.2
I called the lab and they say this is the way their Roche kit works.
How can HbA1c treat 4.2 as the top limit when we all know that it should be around 5.5; and more to the point, how can I be 4.8 when I should be around 6.5 (hopefully)
Is there some conversion factor with the Roche kits?
Thank you
qim
PS. In fact, since writing the above I found the following site that explains the situation. What it does not say is how I can translate the IFCC (2.9-4.2) range to the DCCT/NGSP (4.8-5.9), which is perhaps what is used in the UK
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/31/8/1704.full
