A NOVEL CAPILLARY COLLECTION METHOD FOR OBTAINING CURRENT GLYCOSYLATED HEMOGLOBIN LEVELS IN DIABETIC CHILDREN

A simple method for collecting capillary blood for measurement of glyc osylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was developed that allows samples to be o btained at home and then mailed to the laboratory 2 weeks before a hos pital visit. A single drop of blood is collected into a 2 ml plastic t ube and sent for HbA1c assay on the Diamat HPLC system which has inter - and intra-assay coefficients of variation < 2.6 and < 1.2 %, respect ively. Results of simultaneously obtained venous and capillary samples in 32 diabetic children agreed well with each other. A separate study of 25 patients was performed to determine whether transport condition s affected the samples. Posted samples were compared with venous sampl es; again the values were in good agreement. This method is now used r outinely in the diabetic clinic. Its value was determined by questionn aire in 40 children with age range 4-17 years. No family experienced d ifficulty collecting samples and all samples received were suitable fo r analysis. Children preferred this method to blood collection in the clinic as they felt it was less traumatic and more convenient. Seventy -nine percent of them understood its value in the long-term control of diabetes. In 40.5 % of visits changes to management were made at the clinic due to the availability of the results.