Best place to get a HBA1c Reading (apart from your doctor)

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tubamanandy

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Can anyone recommend a private company that does HBA1C readings ?

I get an annual one from my doctor but would like to keep track of where I am upto a bit more regularly (ie.6 months).

I've had full blood tests done in the past through my work but as not early retired, I dont get these. Happy to pay private but just need a recommendation in UK.
 
bulkbiker

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My go to for private tests is

https://www.medichecks.com/diabetes-tests/diabetes-check

You will however need to find somewhere that will take the blood sample for you.

I was charged £24 for that service at a local private hospital (although it did take 2 people 4 attempts to get the sample). Medichecks do send a lancet and container for a sample from finger pricks but I'm afraid I gave up trying to fill it with enough blood as you need a fair bit.
 
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Juicyj

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CoastGirl

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Check out Thriva.co. I've had various tests done by them and they seem reasonably priced. As @bulkbiker said you will need to find someone to take your blood although they too send a lancet for you to prick your finger and obtain the blood yourself.
 
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Guzzler

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I beleive there is a home testing kit called A1cNow but other members could give you more details I'm sure.
 
miahara

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If you finger prick and can record average BG levels over a period of time there are a couple of formulae that will calculate with a reasonable degree of accuracy your HbA1c. They each return very slightly different results but are pretty close enough to give a reasonable impression as to how HbA1c is moving.

(Ave+2.25)/1.583
((Ave * 18)+46.7)/28.7

Where ave is in mmol/l
 
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tubamanandy

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Thanks everyone - a couple of interesting ideas there - I'm particularly interested in that A1cNow but only real concern is how accurate is it likely to be compared with a normal blood test ?
 
smw99

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CoastGirl said:
Check out Thriva.co. I've had various tests done by them and they seem reasonably priced. As @bulkbiker said you will need to find someone to take your blood although they too send a lancet for you to prick your finger and obtain the blood yourself.
Click to expand...
I too use Thriva. It isn't easy to get the blood but I have perfected it now. They do a subscription service but you you can delay your test or end it at any time.
 
bulkbiker

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tubamanandy said:
Thanks everyone - a couple of interesting ideas there - I'm particularly interested in that A1cNow but only real concern is how accurate is it likely to be compared with a normal blood test ?
Click to expand...
@Rachox didn't you do a parallel test with A1c now or am I having a senior moment?
 
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tubamanandy

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Debandez said:
Last April a1cnow 37 and a few days later (just over 2 weeks) lab result 41. But on 16th Nov I'm going to get lab one at gp so intend doing a home a1c before I go to the surgery. Last week my home one was 33 so I'm.keeping my fingers crossed.
Click to expand...

Let us know how you get on
 
LittleGreyCat

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Bluetit1802 said:
I have used the A1cNow. It was very easy. They send you a reader and a lancet device, and there are full instructions. It is just a normal finger prick and you can use your own lancet device. You pop the blood drop in, and in 5 minutes the result comes up on the screen.

https://www.bhr.co.uk/home-user-products/a1cnow-2
https://www.ptsdiagnostics.com/a1cnow-plus.html#
Click to expand...

Given that I flinch at even the smallest finger prick, is it the same amount of blood as for a standard BG meter?

Just looked at the web site and it seems you get a kit which is good for two tests, then you throw the lot away including the meter.

If so, that makes it around £22 per test.
 
DCUKMod

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tubamanandy said:
Thanks everyone - a couple of interesting ideas there - I'm particularly interested in that A1cNow but only real concern is how accurate is it likely to be compared with a normal blood test ?
Click to expand...

Tubamanandy (Are you, by the way?) - I have used A1cNow tests for 2 or 3 years now. I don't use them all the time, but they are extremely useful if, like me, you only have annual lab A1cs.

As I usually buy bigger packs, I've done a few parallel tests parallel tests, so it could have been me @bulkbiker was meaning, although @Rachox may have done something similar. For me, they have been very accurate, the max adrift on those parallel tests 0.1%.
 
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DCUKMod said:
Tubamanandy (Are you, by the way?) - I have used A1cNow tests for 2 or 3 years now...... although @Rachox may have done something similar....
Click to expand...

Not me guv! I keep an eye on my HbA1c by using the MySugr app.
 
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Bluetit1802

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LittleGreyCat said:
Given that I flinch at even the smallest finger prick, is it the same amount of blood as for a standard BG meter?

Just looked at the web site and it seems you get a kit which is good for two tests, then you throw the lot away including the meter.

If so, that makes it around £22 per test.
Click to expand...

Exactly the same amount of blood as for an ordinary meter test, as long as it fills the small thing you put it in. I never get big blood blobs and I managed it in one go. Yes, you get a kit for 2 tests and then discard the reader. Quite good value for money, and only 5 minutes to wait for the result. There are clear instructions with it, so if you follow them to the letter you can't really go wrong.
 
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