Glycated Hemoglobin and Methods for Its Point of Care Testing

Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a product of the spontaneous reaction between hemoglobin and elevated glucose levels in the blood. It is included among the so-called advanced glycation end products, of which is the most important for the clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and it can serve as an alternative to glycemia measurement. Compared to the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus by glycemia, the HbA1c level is less influenced by a short-term problem with diabetes compensation. Mass spectroscopy and chromatographic techniques are among the standard methods of HbA1c level measurement. Compared to glycemia measurement, there is lack of simple methods for diabetes mellitus diagnosis by means of the HbA1c assay using a point-of-care test. This review article is focused on the surveying of facts about HbA1c and its importance in diabetes mellitus diagnosis, and surveying standard methods and new methods suitable for the HbA1c assay under point-of-care conditions. Various bioassays and biosensors are mentioned and their specifications are discussed.