Approved IFCC Reference Method for the Measurement of HbA1c in Human Blood
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Jan-Olof Jeppsson
Abstract
HbA1c is the stable glucose adduct to the N-terminal group of the β-chain of HbA0. The measurement of HbA1c in human blood is most important for the long-term control of the glycaemic state in diabetic patients. Because there was no internationally agreed reference method the IFCC Working Group on HbA1c Standardization developed a reference method which is here described. In a first step haemoglobin is cleaved into peptides by the enzyme endoproteinase Glu-C, and in a second step the glycated and non-glycated N-terminal hexapeptides of the β-chain obtained are separated and quantified by HPLC and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry or in a two-dimensional approach using HPLC and capillary electrophoresis with UV-detection. Both principles give identical results. HbA1c is measured as ratio between the glycated and non-glycated hexapeptides. Calibrators consisting of mixtures of highly purified HbA1c and HbA0 are used. The analytical performance of the reference method has been evaluated by an international network of reference laboratories comprising laboratories from Europe, Japan and the USA. The intercomparison studies of the network showed excellent results with intra-laboratory CVs of 0.5 to 2% and inter-laboratory CVs of 1.4 to 2.3%. Possible interferences have been carefully investigated. Due to the higher specificity of the reference method the results are lower than those generated with most of the present commercial methods which currently are calibrated with unspecific designated comparison methods. The new reference method has been approved by the member societies of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine and will be the basis for the future uniform standardization of HbA1c routine assays worldwide.
Copyright © 2002 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
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- Approved IFCC Reference Method for the Measurement of HbA1c in Human Blood
- Meetings and Awards
Articles in the same Issue
- Editorial
- Growing Significance of Myeloperoxidase in Non-infectious Diseases
- Serum Paraoxonase Activity and the Extent of Lipid Peroxidation Are not Affected by Increased Levels of Human Apolipoprotein A-I: Studies in Transgenic Mice
- Relationship between the Sialic Acid Content of Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and Autoantibodies to Oxidized LDL in the Plasma of Healthy Subjects and Patients with Atherosclerosis
- The Presence of Heparin-Platelet Factor 4 Antibodies as a Marker of Hypercoagulability during Hemodialysis
- Clinical Evaluation of Changes in the Morphology of Eosinophils
- The n-3 and n-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Composition of Plasma Phospholipids in Pregnant Women and Their Infants. Relationship with Maternal Linoleic Acid Intake
- Quantification of Sirolimus by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Using On-Line Solid-Phase Extraction
- The Effects of Affinity-Purified Anti-DNA Antibodies Derived from Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus on the Fluorescent Antinuclear Antibody Assay Using HEp-2 Cells
- Relationships between Serum Markers of Monocyte/Macrophage Activation in Type 1 Gaucher's Disease
- Gender Differences in C-Reactive Protein Concentrations - Confirmation with Two Sensitive Methods
- Serum Cholinesterase Activity in Patients with Burns
- Serum Lipids and Apolipoproteins in Patients with Psoriasis
- Reference Intervals for a Complete Blood Count Determined on different Automated Haematology Analysers: Abx Pentra 120 Retic, Coulter Gen-S, Sysmex SE 9500, Abbott Cell Dyn 4000 and Bayer Advia 120
- Science, Alchemy and Light: Paintings by Joseph Wright of Derby
- Approved IFCC Reference Method for the Measurement of HbA1c in Human Blood
- Meetings and Awards
