As you may have noticed in reading test descriptions on Lab Tests Online, each test includes both a formal name and other names by which the test is commonly referred. Many tests are called by a variety of names; some tests go by shortened expressions, others are known by acronyms. A prime example of this is the hemoglobin A1c test. This test, which is used in diabetes management and measures the average amount of glucose in the blood over the previous few months, has been called HbA1c, A1c, glycohemoglobin, glycated hemoglobin, Hb A1, and up to as many as 30 different terms. This can be very confusing for patients and can make searching for information on the test difficult.

Two organizations, the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), have taken an important step for simplifying care and management of diabetes by including in their August 2001 recommendations for new diabetes guidelines an effort to standardize the name of this test. They have recommended adopting the term “A1C” since it has been shown to be the easiest name for people to remember. ACE and AACE are encouraging other organizations to consistently use this term as well. So far, the National Diabetes Education Program, the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program, the CDC, the NIH, the AMA, and some 20 other organizations have agreed. You will now find hemoglobin A1c listed as A1C in the pull-down menu for Tests on this web site as well.

Sources:
Oxter, S. AACE, ACOG issue new diabetes guidelines. Clinical Laboratory Strategies October 2001 6(10): 3-4.