Hemoglobin A1c (glycosylated)

Glycated hemoglobin (hemoglobin A1c, HbA_1c, A1C, or Hb_1c; sometimes also referred to as being Hb1c or HGBA1C) is a form of hemoglobin that is measured primarily to identify the three-month average plasma glucose concentration. The test is limited to a three-month average because the lifespan of a red blood cell is four months (120 days). But RBCs do not all undergo lysis at the same time, so HbA1C is taken as a limited measure of 3 months. It is formed in a non-enzymatic glycation pathway by hemoglobin’s exposure to plasma glucose. HbA_1c is a measure of the beta-N-1-deoxy fructosyl component of hemoglobin.

The origin of the naming derives from Hemoglobin type A being separated on cation exchange chromatography. The first fraction to separate, probably considered to be pure Hemoglobin A, was designated HbA₀ , the following fractions were designated HbA_1a, HbA_1b, and HbA_1c, respective of their order of elution. There have subsequently been many more sub fractions as separation techniques have improved.

Normal levels of glucose produce a normal amount of glycated hemoglobin. As the average amount of plasma glucose increases, the fraction of glycated hemoglobin increases in a predictable way. This serves as a marker for average blood glucose levels over the previous three months before the measurement as this is the lifespan of red blood cells.

• Sample of peripheral blood
• We perform the test daily