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Updated: Sep 1, 2025
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A case of inter-assay HbA1c discrepancy due to Hemoglobin G-Copenhagen
Stéphanie Badiou1, Anne-Marie Dupuy2, Séverine Cunat3
1Department of Biochemistry, Centre de Ressources Biologiques de Montpellier, University Hospital of Montpellier, Montpellier, France; PhyMedExp, University of Montpellier, INSERM U1046, CNRS UMR 9214, 34295 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
Background And Objective:
A clinician was intrigued about HbA1c upper 9% (75 mmol/mol) in a 76 year-old women with normal glycemia. Further explorations were performed in order to understand this discordance.
Methods:
First HbA1c test was performed on a HLC -723 G11 apparatus (Tosoh Bioscience) and thereafter compared to the HLC-723-G8 (Tosoh Bioscience), the Capillaris 3 Tera (Sebia) and the DCA Vantage point of care testing (POCT) (Siemens) apparatus. In addition, study of Hemoglobin (Hb) fraction and mutation analysis of HBB gene was realized due to the suspicion of an Hb variant.
Results:
Twice high results of HbA1c (9.3%, 78 mmol/mol and 10%, 86 mmol/mol) on the HLC-723 G11 was not confirmed with other instruments. HbA1c result for the same sample was 5.2% (33 mmol/mol) for the HLC-723 G8, 5.3% (34 mmol/mol) for the Capillaris and 6.2% (44 mmol/mol) for the DCA Vantage POCT. The subject had normal glycemia and none signs of diabetes mellitus. An abnormal Hb fraction was visualized on the graphs for the HLC-723 G11 and Capillaris but not for the HLC-723 G8 analyzer. Study of Hb fraction confirmed the presence of an abnormal Hb fraction that was identifed as an Hb G-Copenhagen through mutation analysis of HBB gene.
Conclusion:
This case evidenced an interference on HbA1c test in presence of Hb G-Copenhagen depending to the analyzer used. This report help to alert of such possibility and to remain that a discordance between HbA1c and glycemia can be due to an Hb variant.
