Measuring Glycosylated Haemoglobin (HBA1C): A Comparison of Boronate Affinity Chromatographic Method and Spectrophotometric Methods

Abstract

Context: Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is an important marker for long term assessment of glycaemic state in patients with diabetes. Different methods are used for its measurement. In this study we compared two widely used methods of measuring HbA1c. Aims and Objectives: To compare two widely used method of measuring HbA1c with the view of find which of the method is more accurate, more stable, and more suited for use in this environment.

Methods: A total of fifty known diabetic patients attending the diabetic clinic at the University Of Benin Teaching Hospital were recruited for this study. About 3ml of blood was collected from each patient and dispensed into EDTA bottle. The specimens were first analyzed using the boronate affinity chromatographic method, thereafter the specimen was analyzed using the spectrophotometric method.

Results: The mean HbA1c value for boronate affinity chromatographic method was found to be higher than that of the spectrophotometric method (9.4%EF%BF%BD0.6% and 9.1%EF%BF%BD0.6%) but this difference was not statistically significant. The same difference was also observed in the mean HbA1c value for both males and females, Conclusion: The boronate chromatographic method which is automated was found to be more reliable, faster and easier to use than the spectrophotometric method.