POCT HbA1c

The Point of Care HbA1c programme utilises fresh patient samples suitable for testing on all POCT devices. Challenging samples from patients with known Hb variants are also distributed on a regular basis to assess current practice. The ability to identify and account for abnormal haemoglobins is particularly important when using HbA1c for diagnosis.

WHO recommendation of HbA1c as a diagnostic test for Diabetes Mellitus:

“HbA1c can be used as a diagnostic test for diabetes providing that stringent quality assurance tests are in place and assays are standardised to criteria aligned to the international reference values, and there are no conditions present which preclude its accurate measurement.”

POCT HbA1c
Fresh EDTA whole blood from individual diabetic patients and healthy volunteers are distributed every alternate month. These samples reflect the wide range of HbA1c seen in Diabetic patients. Samples from normal healthy volunteers are also distributed to ensure that the concentration near the diagnostic ‘cut off’ of 48 mmol/mol Hb, used for diagnosis of diabetes is achieved. The HbA1c reference target values in the Weqas Programme are assigned using IFCC secondary reference methods from an IFCC network laboratory.

Frequency: Bimonthly

Samples per set: 2 x 0.2mL samples

Material: Fresh EDTA whole blood