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Review
. 2013 Aug;34(2):75-83.

HbA1c as a Diagnostic Test for Diabetes Mellitus - Reviewing the Evidence

Chris Florkowski  1
Affiliations
Review

HbA1c as a Diagnostic Test for Diabetes Mellitus - Reviewing the Evidence

Chris Florkowski. Clin Biochem Rev. 2013 Aug.

Abstract

The evidence base in support of HbA1c as a diagnostic test for diabetes mellitus is focused on predicting a clinical outcome, considered to be the pinnacle of the Stockholm Hierarchy applied to reference intervals and clinical decision limits. In the case of diabetes, the major outcome of interest is the long term microvascular complications for which a large body of data has been accumulated, leading to the endorsement of HbA1c for diagnosis in many countries worldwide, with some variations in cut-offs and testing strategies.

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Figures

Figure.
Figure.
Prevalence of retinopathy for fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-h post oral glucose load plasma glucose (2-h PG) and HbA1c, for any retinopathy and diabetes-specific retinopathy (≥ moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy) from DETECT-2. (Reproduced from Ref. with permission.)
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