The measurement of haemoglobin A1c by isoelectric focussing in diabetic patients

Abstract

Incubation in vitro of human red cells in increasing glucose concentrations results in a rise in both haemoglobin A_1c levels and an intermediate band when measured by an isoelectric focussing method. There are strong correlations between blood glucose levels, levels of haemoglobin A_1c and the intermediate band both in vitro and in blood samples taken from diabetic patients. As the intermediate band is also included in the measurement of haemoglobin A_1c by the usual analytical methods, this may lead to inaccurate results.