Comparing Tests for Diabetes and Prediabetes: A Quick Reference Guide

On this page:

Confirming Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes
Interpreting Laboratory Results
Comparing Diabetes Blood Tests
Comparing Diagnoses
References
Acknowledgments

This fact sheet compares the following tests:

A1C test
fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test
oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
random plasma glucose (RPG) test

In addition, the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) offers a pocket guide, Diabetes Numbers At-a-Glance, which can be ordered at www.ndep.nih.gov. Both resources utilize current American Diabetes Association (ADA) clinical recommendations for diagnosing and managing diabetes and prediabetes.¹

Confirming Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes

Diagnosis must be confirmed unless symptoms are present. Repeat the test using one of the following methods:

Repeat the same test on a different day—preferred.
If two different tests are used—e.g., FPG and A1C—and both indicate diabetes, consider the diagnosis confirmed.
If the two different tests are discordant, repeat the test that is above the diagnostic cut point.

If diagnosis cannot be confirmed using the results of two tests, but at least one test indicates high risk, health care providers may wish to follow the patient closely and retest in 3 to 6 months.¹

A doctor, nurse, and technician review test results in a clinic.

[Top]

Interpreting Laboratory Results

When interpreting laboratory results health care providers should

consider that all laboratory test results represent a range, rather than an exact number²
be informed about the A1C assay methods used by their laboratory²
send blood samples for diagnosis to a laboratory that uses an NGSP-certified method for A1C analysis to ensure the results are standardized³
consider the possibility of interference in the A1C test when a result is above 15% or is at odds with other diabetes test results¹
consider each patient’s profile, including risk factors and history, and individualize diagnosis and treatment decisions in discussion with the patient¹

[Top]

Comparing Diabetes Blood Tests^‡

Test	Uses	Technical Features	PROS	CONS
A1C Test	Screening and diagnosis of prediabetes 5.7–6.4%^† Screening and diagnosis of type 2 diabetes ≥ 6.5%^† repeat for confirmation of diagnosis Monitoring of diabetes	Diagnosis requires a laboratory test certified by the NGSP, not meter—point-of-care A1C tests are only suitable for monitoring Sample any time of day, no fasting Sample: anticoagulated whole blood Sample stability: superior Sensitivity: less than the FPG test and the OGTT Range of variability: 0.5% for some methods, see www.ngsp.org Courtesy of David Aron, M.D., Louis Stokes Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center With a range of variation of 0.5%, a result of 7.0 could indicate a true A1C of anywhere from 6.5 to 7.5%.	Reflects long-term blood glucose concentration Unaffected by acute changes in glucose levels due to stress or illness Highly correlated with risks for complications such as retinopathy and cardiovascular disease (CVD) Convenient for patient and health care providers Most stable sample after collection Low within-patient variability Established international standardization of lab tests Accuracy of test is monitored	Lower sensitivity: identifies fewer cases of diabetes than the glucose tests Interference resulting in falsely increased or lowered results due to* genetic variants including HbS, HbC, HbD, and HbE traits and HbF:** affects people of African, Mediterranean, and Southeast Asian heritage kidney disease liver disease iron deficiency anemia heavy bleeding Not recommended for rapidly progressing diabetes, e.g., type 1 diabetes in children May not be available in some laboratories/areas of the world Expensive See www.ngsp.org for information on A1C interference and recommended testing methods. *See the NIDDK publication The A1C Test and Diabetes at www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov.
FPG Test	Screening and diagnosis of prediabetes or impaired fasting glucose (IFG) 100–125 mg/dL^† Screening and diagnosis of diabetes ≥126 mg/dL^† repeat for confirmation of diagnosis	Diagnosis requires a laboratory test, not meter Sample in morning, after 8-hour fast Sample: sodium fluoride plasma preferred Sample stability: low—requires processing within 30 minutes Sensitivity: greater than the A1C test, less than the OGTT Range of variability: 5.7% Courtesy of David Aron, M.D., Louis Stokes Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center With a range of variation of 5.7%, an FPG test result of 126 mg/dL could indicate a true FPG of anywhere from 112 to 140 mg/dL.	Low cost Assay is widely available Assay is automated	Indicates single-point blood glucose level Affected by short-term lifestyle changes: stress or illness Less tightly linked to diabetes complications than A1C Not convenient for patient or health care provider: requires fasting and scheduling a morning appointment or return visit Diurnal variation Sample not stable after collection High within-patient variability Many laboratories measure serum, which is not recommended Inadequate standardization of assays
OGTT	Screening and diagnosis of prediabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) 140–199 mg/dL at 2 hr.^† Screening and diagnosis of diabetes ≥200 mg/dL at 2 hr.^† repeat for confirmation of diagnosis Screening and diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)*	Sample in morning, after 8-hr. fast and 2 hrs. after glucose load Sample stability: low—requires processing within 30 minutes Patients should ingest at least 150 g/day of carbohydrates for 3 days prior Sensitivity: greater than the A1C or the FPG tests Range of variability: 16.7%	Sensitive indicator of risk of developing diabetes Early marker of impaired glucose balance	Affected by short-term lifestyle changes: stress, illness, and medications Not convenient for patient or health care provider: requires fasting and scheduling a morning appointment or return visit Extensive patient preparation Sample not stable after collection High within-patient variability Low reproducibility Expensive
RPG Test	Diagnosis of diabetes—used only with classic symptoms of hyperglycemia or hyperglycemic crisis: polyuria, polydypsia, and unexplained weight loss 200 mg/dL^†	Sample any time, no fasting Sample stability: low—requires processing in fewer than 2 hours	Convenient Part of basic metabolic panel screen	Indicates single-point blood glucose level Used only in symptomatic patients, not recommended for screening Insensitive measurement Greater within-patient variability Affected by short-term lifestyle changes and prandial state

‡Adapted from Sacks DB. A1C versus glucose testing: a comparison. Diabetes Care. 2011;34(4):518–523.

†American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes—2011. Diabetes Care. 2011;34(Supp 1):S11–S61.

*Testing for GDM is not covered in this publication.

[Top]

Comparing Diagnoses

In some people, a blood glucose test may indicate a diagnosis of diabetes even though an A1C test does not.

The reverse can also occur—an A1C test may indicate a diagnosis of diabetes even though a blood glucose test does not.

Because of these variations in test results, health care providers should repeat tests before making a diagnosis. People with differing test results may be in an early stage of the disease, where blood glucose levels have not risen high enough to show on every test.

[Top]

References

American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes—2011. Diabetes Care. 2011;34(Supp 1):S11–S61.
Sacks DB. A1C versus glucose testing: a comparison. Diabetes Care. 2011;34(4):518–523.
See www.ngsp.org for information on A1C test interference and recommended testing methods.

[Top]

Acknowledgments

Publications produced by the Clearinghouse are carefully reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside experts. This publication was reviewed by Randie Little, Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia and David B. Sacks, M.B., Ch.B., F.R.C.Path., NIH Clinical Center.

This publication is published by the NIDDK in collaboration with the NDEP. This publication is available at www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov.

Another quick-reference tool, Diabetes Numbers At-a-Glance 2010, is offered by the NDEP and is available at www.ndep.nih.gov.

National Diabetes Education Program
1 Diabetes Way
Bethesda, MD 20814–9692
Phone: 1–888–693–NDEP (1–888–693–6337)
TTY: 1–866–569–1162
Fax: 703–738–4929
Email: ndep@mail.nih.gov
Internet: www.ndep.nih.gov
www.yourdiabetesinfo.org

The National Diabetes Education Program is a federally funded program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and includes over 200 partners at the federal, state, and local levels, working together to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes.

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
1 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3560
Phone: 1–800–860–8747
TTY: 1–866–569–1162
Fax: 703–738–4929
Email: ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov

The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1978, the Clearinghouse provides information about diabetes to people with diabetes and to their families, health care professionals, and the public. The NDIC answers inquiries, develops and distributes publications, and works closely with professional and patient organizations and Government agencies to coordinate resources about diabetes.

This publication is not copyrighted. The Clearinghouse encourages people to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired.

This publication may contain information about medications. When prepared, this publication included the most current information available. For updates or for questions about any medications, contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration toll-free at 1–888–INFO–FDA (1–888–463–6332) or visit www.fda.gov. Consult your health care provider for more information.

NIH Publication No. 12–7850
September 2012

[Top]

Page last updated September 26, 2012

National Diabetes Information
Clearinghouse (NDIC)

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse

Health Information Services

Education Programs

Awareness Campaigns

Comparing Tests for Diabetes and Prediabetes: A Quick Reference Guide