Comparative Study of HbA1c Levels in EDTA Blood Versus Lithium-heparinized Blood Determined by Boronate Affinity Chromatography Method

Abstract

Diabetes is a major health problem worldwide including Thailand.In some cases, additional HbA1c testing was ordered that required blood collection again affecting satisfactions of patient. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the level of HbA1c in EDTA blood and lithium-heparinized blood measured by boronate affinity chromatography method using the BioHermes A1cCheck Pro analyzer. Ninety left-over lithium-heparinized blood samples which had been taken simultaneously with routine EDTA blood for HbA1c determination of the same patients with HbA1c level of 4-14% were used. Comparative analysis of HbA1c level showed no difference between HbA1c level for EDTA blood and lithium-heparinized blood (p=0.539, Mann-Whitney U test; mean±SD of 7.23±1.95 and 7.35±1.92, respectively). For the Bland Altman analysis using an allowable error limit of ±10%, it was found that differences of all 90 samples were within the acceptable range. The results of linear regression analysis showed that HbA1c levels in both blood samples were significantly correlated (R²=0.962, p<0.001; Y=0.365+0.966X). In conclusion, lithium-heparinized blood sample can be used instead of EDTA blood for HbA1c assay with BioHermes A1cCheck Pro analyzer.