A Comparative Study of HbA1c Measurements Using Lithium Heparin (Glu*) and K3EDTA Blood Collection Tubes Analyzed by HPLC Premier Hb9210
Keywords:
Blood collection tube, K3EDTA blood collection tube, Lithium Heparin blood collection tube, HbA1c, HPLCAbstract
This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using a single blood collection tube for both HbA1c and glucose testing in Satun Hospital’s NCD care network to reduce costs and patient discomfort. Currently, K3EDTA tubes are used for HbA1c, while Lithium heparin (LH) tubes are used for glucose. A total of 400 leftover routine blood samples (HbA1c range: 4.1–18.5%) were analyzed using the HPLC Analyzer Premier Hb9210. Results showed a statistically significant difference in HbA1c values between K3EDTA and LH tubes (p=0.000), although the means were similar 7.64 (SD 2.17) vs. 7.66 (SD 2.17). Bland-Altman analysis and Allowable Error Limit (±8%) revealed that 99.5% of values fell within acceptable limits. A strong correlation was observed (r=0.998). The findings suggest that LH tubes can be reliably used for HbA1c testing, potentially eliminating the need for multiple blood draws and reducing hospital costs.
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