Specimen:

Whole Blood

Collection Medium:

Alternate
Collection Media:

Call laboratory for additional acceptable specimen collection 
containers.

Minimum:

3 ml; lavender top or 1 lavender microtubes for pediatrics

Testing
Schedule:

24 hrs/day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Analytic Time:

2 hours (upon receipt in laboratory)

Reference Range:

4.8 - 6.0%

Comments:

Please print, complete and submit the Advance Beneficiary Notice 
(ABN) along with the Laboratory Requisition before shipping the 
specimen.

Test
Limitations:

Icterus: No significant interference up to an approximate conjugated 
and unconjugated bilirubin concentration of 50 mg/dl.

Lipemia: No significant interference up to a triglyceride concentration 
of 800 mg/dl.

Rheumatoid factor less than 750 IU/ml and ascorbic acid less than 50 
mg/dl do not interfere.

In hemolytic anemia and iron deficiency anemia, the average age of 
erythrocytes is altered. Caution should be used when interpreting the 
HbA1c results from patients with these conditions (2, 3).

This assay is not useful in judging day-to-day glucose control and 
should not be used to replace daily home testing of urine and blood 
glucose.

References:
(1) Glick MR, Ryder KW, Jackson SA. Graphical Comparisons of
    Interferences in Clinical Chemistry Instrumentation. Clin Chem
    1986;32:470-474.

(2) Greiling H, Gressner AM, eds. Lehbuch der Klinischen Chemie und
    Pathobiochemie, 3rd ed. Stuttgart/New York: Schattauer, 1995:279.

(3) Bessis M. Living Blood Cells and their Ultrastructure.  Berlin:
    Springer-Verlag; 1973.

Methodology:

Turbidometric Immunoinhibition

Sample
Processing:

Do Not Centrifuge.
Submit whole blood in original container.

Sample
Storage:

Ambient or Room Temperature.

Transport
Instructions:

Place specimen into zip-lock type bag, seal bag.
Place requisition into outside pocket of bag.
Ship at ambient temperature.

CPT Code:

83036