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08-20-2008, 05:56 PM
|  | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: Colorado
Posts: 428
| | | Which is more accurate?
Does anyone know whether a finger-poke A1C or a lab-drawn A1C is more accurate? I've been told, that finger ones are just as accurate as the old-fashioned blood draw but sometimes I wonder... |
08-21-2008, 04:55 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 5,908
| | Mell,
I think you maybe confusing two separate tests. By "finger-poke" do you mean the blood drop you use with your meter to check you numbers, if so this is not an A1c, it is a reading of your current blood glucose (sugar) levels. The meters tend to have a 10-15% accuracy tolerance.
The blood drawn for lab work is often used to give you both a blood glucose level and your A1c, which are two separate readings. An A1c is a measure of your average blood glucose level over the preceeding 60-90 days, it is often weighted towards that last 30 days. See A1C Test - All About Diabetes - American Diabetes Association
Does that clear it up for you or have I mixed up what you are asking?
__________________  Cosmo the Duck: is with Gretchen in Cambridge, MA. Ping the Duck: is with Nancy
Metformin 500mg twice daily, Enap 5mg
Diagnosed T2 on 26th Nov'07, with BG of 21mmol/L (378mg/dL) and A1c of 11.6%.
Most recent A1c 10/09/09: 6.1%
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08-21-2008, 06:59 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1,952
| | | If I am reading right I think the question was geared towards the home A1c tests as opposed to a lab test. The lab test is the best we have at the moment but the home tests are suppose to be pretty close.
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Diabetes is a condition that you have to manage or it will manage you. The care team is only there in a supporting role
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08-21-2008, 07:14 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 5,908
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by volleyball  If I am reading right I think the question was geared towards the home A1c tests as opposed to a lab test. The lab test is the best we have at the moment but the home tests are suppose to be pretty close. | Ah, that makes more sense, sorry for being dense!
__________________ Cosmo the Duck: is with Gretchen in Cambridge, MA. Ping the Duck: is with Nancy
Metformin 500mg twice daily, Enap 5mg
Diagnosed T2 on 26th Nov'07, with BG of 21mmol/L (378mg/dL) and A1c of 11.6%.
Most recent A1c 10/09/09: 6.1%
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08-21-2008, 09:23 AM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 18
| | | In my experience the finger stick style A1C tests typically read .2-.3 lower than the lab tests. |
08-21-2008, 09:33 AM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fort Wayne Indiana
Posts: 7
| | | Actually
Many docters use finger prick A1c machines, its not an at home test, but a large, usually CPU sized machine. As for accuracy remember that although A1c levels are fairly easy to test, the interpertation <(X)A1c=(Y)(mg/mL)/last 3 months> is inaccurate at best, and can be downright wrong depending on many factors some completely remote from diabetes. A1c tests are valulable tools in Docters's diabetic arsenal, but don't get to bent outta shape over accuracy. Remember even lab drawn lab glucose levels aren't precise, are bodys are far too dynamic.
__________________
"Freedom without happiness, Happiness without freedom. there is no other choice" -Eugene Zamiytrin
"Chemistry is the heart of diabetes, before we too harshly judge Chemists for filling our world with 'chemicals', let us remember that before Dr. Collip, every type 1 diabetic was doomed to coma, then death."
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08-21-2008, 09:40 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Alabama
Posts: 1,077
| | | Yeah, I had to wonder about my last A1C. But my endo wasn't too concerned about it.
I'm thinking about getting one of the home A1C testers.
__________________
Glycemic impact diet
exercise
Metformin 2000 mg
Byetta 10 mcg/2x daily
Enalapril 40 mg
A1C, 9-1-09: 5.3!! 
A1C, 5-19-09: 5.1!!! 
A1C, 2-12-09: 5.3!! 
A1C, 11-14-08: 5.2!!
A1C, 8-7-08: 6.3 
A1C, 5-1-08: 5.6!! 
A1C, 2-5-08: 7.4  |
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