In response to Roy Fisher's comments regarding HbA1c being used for
diagnosis of diabetes, I have also noted an increase in this type of request
over the last 18 months, to the extent that inappropriate requests now
account for about 8% of our workload. The matter was discussed at a recent
audit meeting and it was agreed that such requesting was not indicated and
the diagnosis should rest on glucose measurement. However, I later
discovered that one of our diabetologists had advised his surgical
colleagues running a vascular clinic that Hba1c was a useful 'screen' for DM
as the blood could be taken at clinic appt. and patients did not therefore
have to reattend fasting......you just can't win it seems.
In practical terms we still perform the assay and comment at reporting stage
as I do not have the time to vet every HbA1c request for appropriateness.
Derek Pledger
Clinical Biochemistry Dept
Ipswich Hospital
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|