hba1c testing

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s'nic

s'nic

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At risk of diabetes
Any thoughts on the test available at Boots?

Diabetes HbA1c In-Store Testing Service - Boots

The Diabetes HbA1c Testing Service can identify prediabetes and early type 2 diabetes. Book your in-store Boots appointment now.
www.boots.com www.boots.com
"The HbA1c test measures average blood glucose levels over the past 8-12 weeks and can identify prediabetes and early type 2 diabetes."

I loaded the 1st page off the book a test link, it states unsuitability for certain groups

boots hb1ac test.png
 
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s'nic said:
Any thought on the test availability at Boots?

Diabetes HbA1c In-Store Testing Service - Boots

The Diabetes HbA1c Testing Service can identify prediabetes and early type 2 diabetes. Book your in-store Boots appointment now.
www.boots.com www.boots.com
"The HbA1c test measures average blood glucose levels over the past 8-12 weeks and can identify prediabetes and early type 2 diabetes."

I loaded the 1st page off the book a test link, it states unsuitability for certain groups

View attachment 30012
Click to expand...
At least they have identified people for whom the test will not be suitable.
The problem with those tests is the accuracy but it depends on whether they use a venous blood sample or just a finger prick sample which is capillary blood as they do vary and the result would likely be slightly different to the test done by the NHS if so. May only be a problem if people are borderline.
 
Yeah, I couldn't find what I would term proper in-depth info. Just the blurb off that linked page that included the info
"The HbA1c test measures average blood glucose levels over the past 8-12 weeks"
"During the 20-minute appointment, a trained tester will take a fingerpick blood sample & test a small drop of blood using a specialised device to check your HbA1c level"
So it's definitely just a fingerprick
 
s'nic said:
Yeah, I couldn't find what I would term proper in-depth info. Just the blurb off that linked page that included the info
"The HbA1c test measures average blood glucose levels over the past 8-12 weeks"
"During the 20-minute appointment, a trained tester will take a fingerpick blood sample & test a small drop of blood using a specialised device to check your HbA1c level"
So it's definitely just a fingerprick
Click to expand...
Did it say how much it cost?
It will probably use some sort of predictor algorithm but I can't see how it would be particularly accurate but may be good enough if somebody was undiagnosed with symptoms to either reassure them or indicate they need to see their GP but no better than somebody having a home testing monitor and checking their level at home on a regular basis.
 
I would ask them what the error on the result would be and I would expect that to be expressed in a statistical form. If they looked a bit blank at you, then I would not bother.
 
Leadinglights said:
Did it say how much it cost?
It will probably use some sort of predictor algorithm but I can't see how it would be particularly accurate but may be good enough if somebody was undiagnosed with symptoms to either reassure them or indicate they need to see their GP but no better than somebody having a home testing monitor and checking their level at home on a regular basis.
Click to expand...
Yes it does £19.99. Details of the device and its performancd needed before reaching conclusions. The text about the service refers to an estimated 7.5 million people in the UK with prediabetes. It says diabetes is lifelong condition but does not mention the possibility of remission. Neither does it mention fatty liver or the possibility of reversing that. Hats off to Boots for trying to tackle the problem, but now is a good time for a concerted action by all interested parties to deal with it.
 
Docb said:
I would ask them what the error on the result would be and I would expect that to be expressed in a statistical form. If they looked a bit blank at you, then I would not bother.
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The press release in January 2023 said Boots initiative is supported by Diabetes UK. Presumably your question about the validity of the test would have been asked before the release?

www.boots-uk.com

Boots UK launches new in-store service to help millions at risk of Type 2 diabetes

Boots UK launches new in-store service to help millions at risk of Type 2 diabetes
www.boots-uk.com www.boots-uk.com
 
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When I lived in Newport, before 2012, the Royal Gwent Hospital, where I went for D clinic once I started on insulin, used to do a finger-prick HbA1c, result in a few minutes.

I just tried to find a Boots store that would do this, and told no results local to me - not even in Peterborough, let alone my small market town. Presumably only in very large cities!
 
Not available in Coventry, either, which is hardly a small place! (Nearest is Solihull).
 
JITR said:
Presumably your question about the validity of the test would have been asked before the release?
Click to expand...
Doubt it. Takes a beat up old scientist to ask that sort of question. The marketing department would not know what you were talking about.
 
Well some hospitals have been known to do this in their diabetes clinics in the past so people attending their appts there didn't have to get 'an armful of blood test' before arriving. ISTR that Jenny the Scottish HR lawyer employed by a major law firm in London, who used to belong to DSF used to get hers done that way at whichever London hospital she used to attend for her D clinics and she was gobsmacked that the rest of us's D clinics didn't have that facility.
 
I am surprised! Would you be able to suggest someone at Diabetes UK for me to contact about the misinformation on Boots website obtained from DUK - please PM any details. Thanks. @Docb
 
Leadinglights said:
It will probably use some sort of predictor algorithm but I can't see how it would be particularly accurate but may be good enough if somebody was undiagnosed with symptoms to either reassure them or indicate they need to see their GP but no better than somebody having a home testing monitor and checking their level at home on a regular basis.
Click to expand...
More likely it's using a finger prick HbA1c machine. The DSNs here have one, and reckon it's about as accurate as the lab test. The one they have is quite big but quite practical for a moderate sized pharmacy to have.
 
Thanks for that @Eddy Edson - I should have done a bit more looking. The machine is for pro use and not the same as the home use devices similar to blood glucose monitors. Last time I looked they were not very reproducible and were what I was thinking about.
 
I expect they will see how profitable the first ones are before they decide whether to increase the number of stores using them.
 
I was tempted to get one, but they won't deliver to home addresses!
 
@Bruce Stephens, @Eddy Edson , @Docb
So if I didn't want to wait until next january for a bha1c, and I couldn't get a hba1c included in july when my kidney / cholesterol blood tests are done it should be valid enough to show if my diet and weight loss were moving my hba1c in the right direction?
Bearing in mind I have cdk stage 3a, and it said not suitable for those with severe kidney disease. Not sure what stage they would class as severe, but if it has similar accuracy to labs, I assume it would be similarly valid :confused:
 
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s'nic said:
@Bruce Stephens, @Eddy Edson , @Docb
So if I didn't want to wait until next january for a bha1c, and I couldn't get a hba1c included in july when my kidney / cholesterol blood tests are done it should be valid enough to show if my diet and weight loss were moving my hba1c in the right direction?
Bearing in mind I have cdk stage 3a, and it said not suitable for those with severe kidney disease. Not sure what stage they would class as severe, but if it has similar accuracy to labs, I assume it would be similarly valid :confused:
Click to expand...
I think it would certainly give you a good idea, sufficient to see if what you are doing is having an effect or not as long as you look for the general trend of up, down or similar to your last HbA1C. You would have to check if your kidney condition excludes you from them doing the test.
 
Leadinglights said:
I think it would certainly give you a good idea, sufficient to see if what you are doing is having an effect or not as long as you look for the general trend of up, down or similar to your last HbA1C. You would have to check if your kidney condition excludes you from them doing the test.
Click to expand...
yes that's what I thought. ckd 3a is classed as moderate as I understand it, but seems to me if the accuracy is similar to a lab, then it should be valid.
I'm only 2.5 months since prediabetes diagnosis, so it's too soon atm, but I think i will see what happens in july, and consider it them.
Thanks
 
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