The use of HbA(1c) for the diagnosis of diabetes.

The diagnosis of diabetes can be made with HbA1c but it requires: 1) confirmation with a second measurement of HbA1c within a few days or weeks; 2) certainty that the HbA1c assay is performed according to IFCC recommendations and standardization to DCCT/UKPDS; and 3) careful exclusion of clinical conditions that make HbA1c assessment problematic and poorly reliable. Once these three conditions are fully satisfied, the diagnosis of diabetes with HbA1c is more reliable than the diagnosis with plasma glucose