For timings or a home visit, call 8872524007.
What the HbA1c test checks
Glucose in the blood sticks to haemoglobin, the protein inside red blood cells. The more glucose there is over time, the more haemoglobin gets "glycated". Red cells live for about 120 days, so the percentage of glycated haemoglobin gives a running average weighted towards the last few weeks.
One big sugary meal or a skipped dinner won't shift it much. That's its strength, and why it complements a single-moment reading like the fasting blood sugar test.
Why your doctor may order it
- To screen for or help diagnose type 2 diabetes and prediabetes
- To check how well treatment is working, typically every three months when control is being adjusted and about twice a year when it's stable
- When daily readings don't fit the overall picture
- Before planning a pregnancy or surgery in someone with diabetes
How to prepare
None needed. Eat normally, take your medicines as usual and come at any time we're open.
Do mention if you've had heavy bleeding, a blood transfusion in the last three months, are pregnant, have kidney disease or know you have thalassaemia trait or anaemia. Each can make HbA1c read falsely high or low, and the doctor needs to know.
Sample type and report time
A small arm sample goes into a purple-top EDTA tube, the same kind used for a blood count. We usually report the same day when the sample comes in by about 11 am, as a printed copy and a WhatsApp PDF.
Searching for an HbA1c test near me in Banur or Rajpura? We collect at home in Banur and nearby villages daily, and further by appointment; see home sample collection.
Understanding your results
The American Diabetes Association uses these cut-offs:
- Below 5.7%: usual range
- 5.7% to 6.4%: prediabetes
- 6.5% or above: consistent with diabetes, normally confirmed by a repeat test unless symptoms are clear
Many reports also show the result in mmol/mol and an estimated average glucose (eAG) in mg/dL. An HbA1c of 7%, for example, corresponds to an eAG of roughly 154 mg/dL.
Iron-deficiency anaemia tends to push HbA1c up. Recent blood loss, haemolysis and some haemoglobin variants can pull it down or make it unreliable. The range printed on your report is the one that applies, ranges vary by lab and method, and your doctor reads the result alongside your symptoms and other tests.
FAQ
What is the HbA1c test price at Alpha Laboratory?
The HbA1c test price depends on the method used and whether it's part of a package such as Diabetes Care. Call or WhatsApp for the current price; we'll give you today's rate.
Do I need to fast for HbA1c?
No. It reflects months of glucose, so a meal before the test makes no meaningful difference.
How often should HbA1c be checked?
That's your doctor's call. A common pattern is every three months while treatment is being adjusted and every six months once things are steady.
Can HbA1c be wrong?
It can be misleading in anaemia, after blood loss or transfusion, in pregnancy, in kidney disease and with some inherited haemoglobin types. Your doctor may then rely more on glucose readings.
Book at Alpha Laboratory
Book an HbA1c test by calling 8872524007, or WhatsApp us with your prescription. Our address and hours are on the contact page.