8Which Effects Affect A1C Results?
Currently, you can easily purchase home test kits to do an A1C test yourself. However, the accuracy may depend on certain factors. These include recent blood transfusion, heavy or recent blood loss, pregnancy, haemoglobin variants, or a history of anemia. The results of an A1C test can be relative as they might be up to 0.5 percent lower or higher than the actual number. It means that if your A1C level is 4, it would suggest a range between 3.5 and 4.5. Some individuals would receive false results if they have serious anemia, liver disease, or kidney failure. Ethnicity would affect the test results as well. People of Southeast Asian, Mediterranean, or African descent would have fewer haemoglobin A, which would interference with A1C tests. In these cases, blood samples may be analysed in a specialized lab to ensure accuracy. [8]
