I visited my endo today, and instead of giving me written lab orders for an A1C test a week prior to my next visit in 90 days, he had a staff member come in to do a finger stick on me for two purposes. The first was a BG meter test, and the second strip went directly to a new AiC meter in the office.

The nurse explained that they certify the accuracy of their new meter every day, and that I will be called if there is any negative change in my usual 6% results. I asked if the A1C meters that are for sale at pharmacies are worth buying, and she said NO. The accuracy is so poor that the cost is a waste of time and money (besides which, my test in the office is covered along with the cost of the visit by my insurance). So, why pay out-of-pocket for an unreliable meter?

I merely posted this for the news value of the A1C test being done during a visit to the endo. If YOU have bought your own A1C meter and prefer to believe that it gives good info., fine. Do whatever you want.

Since I was diagnosed in 2003, my doctors have all done tests in-office and I agree, it's a good service.

I think the nurse was being hard on the A1c home test. I have found it gives results very close to office and lab A1c test - the big variable is making sure you get the blood sample right. It's easy to get too much blood into the sample chamber and that skews the results.

I'm inclined to agree. Last spring, my type 2 buddy and I went to a health fair and we both had our A1c's tested there. I'm pretty sure it was the same test that Manxman describes as the new meter at his endo's office.

When we got back home, I was curious about the Bayer A1c test, so I went down to the Walgreen's and bought one. It had 2 tests in it, so I tested both my buddy and myself. I tested within .1 of what I got at the health fair, and my buddy's was within .2.

So, I'm inclined to trust it. I'm currently uninsured, and the lab at my endo's wants $135 for an A1c test. Let me see, $135 for one test or $40 for the Bayer with 2 tests. I don't think there's much question which route I'll go.

Tom

The Bayer drugstore tests are the same ones they use in the CVS clinic that does free A1c tests. My result was the same as my lab result.

The A1c Now test is as good as most of the labs, certified to give the same results as most US labs.

My A1c tests have been performed at - Dr. Raskin's, UTSW, diabetes lab for many years. He is doing a study on A1c
and rechecks many A1c tests using a very accurate process. I have used about 10 of the Bayer tests and all of them
have been as close as the regular lab tests compared to the re-tests at Dr Raskin's lab.

They do not share information about the on-going study but I have noticed that the Reference Range has changed to 3.2-5.6%
and this is determined buy the average results of 100 individuals that have proven normal BG control...I think the reference range for most
labs will be lowered at some point.

Here is my last A1c that was re-tested, you can see there is some deviation.

HEMOGLOBIN A1C 5.4%
Reference Range: 4.3 - 6.1%
UTSW, MAIN LAB

HEMOGLOBIN A1C 5.7%
Reference Range: 3.2-5.6%
PERFORMED AT DIABETES LAB - DR. RASKIN, UTSW, DALLAS, TX 75390

I have had them done in the clinic for a long long time, especially because I used to refuse to have my bloods done all the time and only got them done annually so the clinic test meant I could still get a result.