title: Current aspects in hemoglobin A1c detection: a review.
abstract: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a pressing health issue that threatens global health and the productivity of populations worldwide. Despite its long-recognized role in diabetes management, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) only received WHO endorsement as a T2DM diagnostic tool in 2011. Although conventional plasma-specific tests have long been utilized to diagnose T2DM, the public should be informed that plasma-specific tests are not markedly better than HbA1c tests, particularly in terms of variability and convenience for diagnosing diabetes. In the midst of the debates associated with establishing HbA1c as the preeminent diabetes diagnostic tool, unceasing efforts to standardize HbA1c tests have played an integral part in achieving more efficient communication from laboratory to clinical practice and thus better diabetes care. This review discusses the current status of HbA1c tests in the diagnosis, prevention, treatment and management of T2DM across the globe, focusing on increasing the recognition of glycated hemoglobin variants with effective utilization of different HbA1c methods, updating the current status of HbA1c standardization programs, tapping into the potential of POC analyzers to establish a cost-effective HbA1c test for diabetes care, and inspiring the advancement of HbA1c biosensors for future clinical usage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Shu Hwang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thevarajah
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yatimah
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Alias
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: naomikhor@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Sook Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Khor
mesh_terms: D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human
keywords: Biosensors; Hemoglobin A1c tests; IFCC (International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine); NGSP (National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program); POC technology; Type 2 diabetes mellitus