at home a1c test

[christie]

i saw in a ad for a store that they were selling at home a1c tests.maybe someone here might have some info about these,i think these are a good idea for those who either have no insurance or just want to check,i know i usually worry about what mine will be even though my sugars are usually pretty good.

[TvBabe]

You got me curious so I did a search and look at the first link I discovered :)

Home A1c test (http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?prodid=11004772&whse=&topnav=&cat=4669&hierPath=589*4669*)

[nantomsuethom]

I saw this at Wal Mart. It was $20. there. Our insurance doesnt cover the A1c, but it is only $10. at the doctor's office.

[KLD]

I think this came up in another thread recently and I replied to that, but I'll repeat myself here since it's come up again. Several people on my other diabetes website have tried these (different brand names); they did a test at home on the same day as they had one done at the lab or at their doctor's office, and found the results compared very favourably - either the same or very close to the same.

Karen

[Philly-Mike]

Based on the info given here I picked up one of these home A1C tests and did the test this evening. It was dead on accurate. Regretably it was also 11.6, but I expected that with my recent complications and out of control BS. Now the test will come in a few months when I've been managing my BS better with the new insulin and diet, then I'll test again and have the doc do tests and compare the new results.

[webpundit]

This is very exciting! I'm glad to hear that these tests are so accurate. Now I can test myself anytime I want at home. My endocrinologist is a pretty hard person to get, and I have to make appointments months in advance. So something like this is a godsend. It also makes economical sense for me, because instead of paying the $30 copay to see the doc I can simply buy this test.

My question : Are there any particular brands that are especially dependable? I don't want to get a fly-by-night product. Any experience, anyone?

[archimeech]

!!!warning!!!
"It also makes economical sense for me, because instead of paying the $30 copay to see the doc I can simply buy this test. "

This Test is not a replacement for going to see your endocrinologist. Use it for a good measure of your A1C, but please go see you doctor regularly. A good endocrinologist can make a world of difference. While this test is a great thing for us to use in our battle for better control don't forget the guys/gals with the medical degrees.

[webpundit]

Hi Archimeech,

Thanks for that caveat. I have no intentions of not seeing my endo on a regular basis. I just needed something like this to tide me over times when I wanted an appointment with the endo but she couldn't get me in for 2 more months. I appreciate the thought though :)

[archimeech]

Good! You worried me there for a moment! lol :)

[My Peach Emily]

What is A1C?

[archimeech]

It's one of the most powerful tools for a diabetic and their doctor since the insulin injection.

From Joslin.org/education/library/fructosamine_test.shtml

Hemoglobin A1c testing
While home blood glucose monitoring is like a snapshot, hemoglobin A1c testing is more like a full length movie - it provides a view of how your blood glucose level has been doing over a period of two to three months. Usually conducted through a lab, it also suffers less from the problems posed by having an individual measure their own blood glucose -- too little or too much blood on the test strip, or an inappropriately adjusted meter that provides less than accurate results. For people who have not undergone any major changes in their lifestyle or diabetes regimen, hemoglobin A1c tests provide a good assessment of long-term blood glucose control.

Of course, a normal hemoglobin A1c test does not mean that your blood glucose has been under control continuously for the past 2-3 months. In fact, people with swings in blood glucose levels — lots of highs and lows — would also have a normal hemoglobin A1c. This is why daily blood glucose readings are also important. The target A1c level is below 7. An A1c above 7 and below 8 for more than 6 months, or and A1c over 8, requires treatment plan changes.

[JasonJayhawk]

I did the "A1c at home" test -- one that is mailed in to a lab in Florida. Results came back in about 3 weeks (during the hurricaines).

Their reference range said that anything below 7% was "normal" -- I received a 6.0%. Unknowingly, my endo had done an A1c on me... Quest labs in St. Louis reported me at a 5.1%, where there reference range was anything below 6%.

Thus, both labs were comparable.

I purchased the at-home test on eBay for about $5.00. It was a good price, considering that they usually are $20.

Someone on eBay is selling 100 (yes, ONE-HUNDRED!) instant at-home A1c tests, as one entire big lot. Unfortunately, the seller knows "nothing" about them (e.g., they could all be expired or have been in bad environmental conditions -- he doesn't know). Maybe someone else would be more daring than me to bid on them and test them out, and perhaps go into a little Home A1c-Now distributing business if they work. hehehe.