title: Quality of HbA1c Measurement in Trinidad and Tobago.
abstract: Monitoring of HbA1c is the standard of care to assess diabetes control. In Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) there are no existing data on the quality of HbA1c measurement. Our study examined the precision and accuracy of HbA1c testing in T&T.
  
  
  
  Sets of 10 samples containing blinded duplicates were shipped to laboratories in T&T. This exercise was repeated 6 months later. Precision and accuracy were estimated for each laboratory/method.
  
  
  
  T&T methods included immunoassay, capillary electrophoresis, and boronate affinity binding. Most, but not all, laboratories demonstrated acceptable precision and accuracy.
  
  
  
  Continuous oversight of HbA1c testing (eg, through proficiency testing) in T&T is recommended. These results highlight the lack of oversight of HbA1c testing in some developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sangre Grande Hospital, Trinidad and Tobago.
authors.forename: Maynika V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Rastogi
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins International Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ladenson
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences and Child Health, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences and Child Health, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA Littler@health.missouri.edu.
authors.forename: Randie R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Little
mesh_terms: D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D059021:Laboratory Proficiency Testing; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human
keywords: HbA1c; comparison; glycated hemoglobin; proficiency testing