Report of the ALFEDIAM and SFBC experts - HbA(1c): Clinical and biologicalagreement for assay standardization

Glycohaemoglobin, and particularly haemoglobin A(1c)(HbA(1c)), assays have been used for many years to retrospectively evaluate the glycaemic control of diabetic patients. Cut-off values have been established for deciding tre atment modifications. The techniques used in the laboratories however exhib it varying quality, and all of them are not yet standardized. The consequen ce is an under-utilization of this test, especially in nonhospital practice . In this context,working groups of Societe Francaise de Biologie Clinique (SFBC), Association de Langue Francaise pour l'Etude du Diabete et des Mala dies Metaboliques (ALFEDIAM) and Societe Francaise d'Endocrinologie (SFE) h ave met together, in order to analyze the national status, and to propose p ractical recommendations for implementing a standardization process on the basis of international experiences. it is recommended to exclusively expres s results as HbA(1c) percentage, using methods standardized and certified b y comparison to reference methods such as those using Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) values. Simultaneously, contacts have been estab lished with manufacturers, and the realisation of periodic quality control surveys was encouraged.