Evaluation of the DCA Vantage analyzer for HbA 1c assay.
BACKGROUND
Measurement of HbA 1c is key in monitoring diabetic patients in both laboratories and clinical units, where HbA 1c results are used as part of patient education.


METHODS
We have evaluated the DCA Vantage, a new device for immunological assay of HbA 1c. HbA 1c results obtained were evaluated in terms of precision, linearity, specificity and practicability, and were compared with results obtained by a Variant II HPLC method.


RESULTS
The method exhibited intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation lower than 2.6% and 4.0%, respectively, and good correlation with the comparison HPLC method (r2=0.9776). No interference was noted in the presence of labile HbA 1c or carbamylated hemoglobin. The new device exhibited improved practicability characteristics and allowed better sample identification, better management of quality control routines and greater connectivity possibilities compared to the previous DCA 2000 analyzer.


CONCLUSIONS
This new analyzer exhibited analytical and practical characteristics very suitable for HbA 1c assay for laboratory or point-of-care use according to good laboratory practice.
Szymezak
Jean
J
Laboratory of Pediatric Biology and Research, American Memorial Hospital, University Hospital of Reims, Reims, France.
Leroy
Nathalie
N
Lavalard
Emmanuelle
E
Gillery
Philippe
P
D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human