Where Can I Get A Free A1c Test

The A1C, a Glycated hemoglobin, is a form of hemoglobin that is measured primarily to place the three-month average blood glucose concentration.

The A1C examination is limited to a 3-calendar month average because the lifespan of a red blood prison cell is only iv months. In other words, it'south the indication of your blood sugar level for a iii-calendar month period.

Typically, your doctor will test your A1C levels every 90 to 180 days depending on how well your blood sugar levels take been managed.

In basic terms, the A1C test checks to see how much glucose is attaching to your red blood cells. Y'all can work to keep your A1C within your target range using a recommended diabetes management regimen along with a well-managed diet, do routine and other healthy lifestyle .

Normal a1C	Prediabetes a1C	Diabetic a1c
Under 5.vii	5.7 to half-dozen.4	vi.v and in a higher place

A1C Exam Features and Pricing

While about hospital conducted A1C tests cost around $86 per test (depending on your co-pay), you lot tin now buy the A1C self-bank check domicile kit for around $xl.

Each kit includes one examination with ii strips, merely y'all can buy a double exam kit likewise. The kits are not reusable so once you use your two lancets, y'all must purchase some other kit.

Utilize

Most people use this test every 30 days instead of waiting 90 days to be seen by the doctor. This helps patients have a more accurate reading on where their levels fall throughout the calendar month.

Insurance Coverage

Most insurances will comprehend ane or 2 tests per twelvemonth and some hospitals will have a sample take-home A1C test that y'all can ask for. All the same, non all hospitals do so you lot may still need to purchase over the counter kits depending on how many results a year you want to have or how many your doctor requires.

Pros and Cons of Abode Testing

The A1C at abode kit needs four big drops of blood which is easier than the amount they depict from your arm at the hospital. Even so, if you don't get an adequate corporeality of blood on the test strip, the meter will read an error on your result and you will have to use the second test strip.

Make certain you take pricked your finger well enough to have a skilful amount of claret on the strip so you don't waste material whatsoever of the test. Be sure to go on the exam kit at room temperature afterwards buying and non go out it in a hot place. Drastic changes in temperature can affect your kit and brand it unusable.

If your results differ greatly from your concluding medico's appointment, it is recommended you lot retake the examination to see how far apart they are. You must wait at least one hour before taking another test or yous will not get an accurate result. The wait time for each test is effectually five minutes. While most people prefer to take the at home tests, non everyone gets the best results.

The test can vary from .five in results to an entire signal or more off. Make certain when buying a exam, you cheque the expiration engagement on the box. If it is expired, your results will not be accurate.

Bachelor Kits

There are a few unlike types of at habitation A1C testing kits bachelor. You tin bank check a listing here.

They include:

CVS Health A1C Home Test Kit
Walgreens A1C Test Kit
ReliOn A1C Exam Kit
Bayer A1C Now Self Check Examination Kit

Y'all tin also mail in your examination results if you are using the Relion kit. It comes with a prepaid envelope at no boosted cost and so you can await for them to be mailed back or they can electronic mail y'all with the results. If yous only use i examination strip at a time, the other must exist refrigerated if it won't be used inside 120 days (non all brands require refrigeration so be sure to read the care instructions).

All kits come with instructions on how to operate the meter and get your best results. Some kits even come with a dvd or tutorial on how to operate your device. If your kit does not come with a dvd and you would like a visual to ensure you are using your device properly, there are many YouTube videos with instructions to aid you get your best results.

Where to Buy

Y'all tin purchase your A1C kits here or, Walgreens, CVS, or anywhere with a chemist's shop. Walgreens carries their ain A1C test kit and it costs most $40 and comes with 2 tests. There is a very high accuracy rate for the Walgreens test.

Near customers are very pleased with their results and 72% of customers said they will continue to purchase Walgreens brand. CVS chemist's shop carries their own make of A1C test kits like Walgreens which run for nigh $29.99 for two tests. The results have been very good for customers as they are pleased that the readings take been shut to or exactly what the doctor's labs read.

Relion is some other A1C brand you lot can try which tin can be purchased at any pharmacy and is typically only $32 to $40 dollars for ii tests. Bayer also makes an A1C at home test kit which is effectually $19.99 to $25 dollars for ane test, so it is the cheapest of the examination kits.

Yet, the reviews for this production have not been as expert as they have been for Walgreens or the Relion make with merely a 42% customer review for satisfaction. It seems these results are the farthest form the doctor's role or customers have the hardest time getting results and the customer service is not as helpful as they could be.

If yous plan on buying the Bayer brand, exist sure to read the instructions carefully and make sure y'all have an adequate corporeality of blood before testing and so you are not receiving an mistake on your screen.

If you don't desire to buy an at habitation test kits in the store, you tin can likewise order them online. They tin can exist shipped to y'all for a shipping cost or for free depending on where y'all buy them from.

Some benefits for buying the at home test kits include: not having to bulldoze to the doctors, paying just one-half of what it would price in most doctor'due south offices, only having to expect about v minutes for your results and having much less claret taken than at the hospital.

Accuracy

The down side to the kits is that the accurateness is not always 100%. The kits come in pocket-size packs so if the results get messed up or there is an error, yous must re-purchase some other kit which would ultimately cost about the same as it would have at the physician's function.

You do not have to fast to take an at home kit like y'all typically would when yous visit your medico. Because the hospital is commonly running more i examination on your blood, you are required to fast for your infirmary A1C examination.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the A1c test kits can be prove to be a very helpful tool for both you and your doctor in monitoring your A1C levels. It is of import for people to understand that these tests will not ever have the same results every bit in the physician'southward role as diet and exercise have a large role in how well you are managing your diabetes on a twenty-four hours to day ground.

Overall, the A1C test kits are easy and convenient to utilise. They are also reasonably priced. Additionally, they are small and compact which makes them easy to accept and utilize anywhere. If yous're regularly tracking your A1C levels, this might exist a benign home system for you to take in your diabetes toolbox.

TheDiabetesCouncil Article | Reviewed past Dr. Sergii Vasyliuk Physician on September 15, 2018