Determination of HbA1c in the presence of haemoglobin variants: comparison of three HPLC techniques.

Abstract

The presence of Hb variants may cause analytical interference in HbA1c values measured with the HPLC techniques currently used in Italian laboratories. In this study performance of a new HPLC system, (HA-8140, Menarini) was compared with two other traditional HPLC systems (HA-8121, Menarini and Diamat, Bio-Rad). The HA-8140 system detects the Hb variant possibly present in an independent peak. The integration area of such a peak is not computed in the calculation of the percentage value of HbA1c. In this manner the underestimation of values obtained with traditional HPLC systems is avoided.