AUTOMATED-DETERMINATION OF GLYCATED HEMOGLOBIN - COMPARATIVE-EVALUATION OF 5 ASSAY SYSTEMS

We evaluated four newly introduced assays for determination of glycate d hemoglobin allowing the processing of large amounts of samples in a clinical routine laboratory. These methods were compared to the Bio-Ra d Diamat system. The investigated methods were the Merck Hitachi L-910 0, a fully automated HPLC analyser, the Abbott IMx glycated hemoglobin ion capture assay, the DAKO HbA1c enzyme linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA), and the Boehringer-Mannheim HbA1c Tinaquant turbidimetric assa y. All methods showed generally acceptable precision and good accordan ce with the Diamat system. Interference study showed influence of anae mia, polycythemia, rheumatoid factor, and chronic hemodialysis on the values of the DAKO ELISA and of anaemia and polycythemia on the values of the Boehringer-Mannheim Tinaquant assay. All of the investigated m ethods allow referring of results either as measured or standardised H bA1c values, the latter obtained after calibration with reference to a n ion exchange high-pressure liquid chromatography method. Our data co nfirm the feasibility of this kind of standardisation of glycated hemo globin assays, allowing direct comparison of results from various dete rmination methods. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.