Estimation of glycosylated haemoglobin by a procedure appropriate for general laboratory conditions in the Caribbean: the St. James Cardivasculary Survey - abstract

ABSTRACT

Glycosylation of haemoglobin was measured in 759 women who comprised a subsample of those that took part in the St. James Cardiovascular Survey. A colorimetric assay was utilized. The glucose moiety of glycosylated haemoglobin was converted to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural was then measured by reaction with 2-thiobarbituric acid. Glycosylation of haemoglobin was expressed as æmol/l of fructose. A mean concentration of 52.2 æmol/l (sd 8.4) was obtained for non-diabetic women while in diabetic women the mean concentration was 68 æmol/l (sd 14.8). There was a significant correlation between fasting blood glucose level and glycosylated haemoglobin (r = 0.74, p =.05). This procedure gave an inter-assay co-efficient of variation of 3.6 percent and an intra-assay co-efficient of variation of 2.4 percent. As a screening device for diabetes, the method has a sensitivity of 70 percent and a specificity of 96 percent (AU)