Hemoglobin A1c Test

This hemoglobin A1c test may be right for you if any of the following are true:

• You are concerned that you are at risk of developing diabetes
• You have been diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes and are looking to monitor your hemoglobin A1c levels
• You have made lifestyle changes and want to see if those changes have made an impact on your hemoglobin A1c levels

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C)

Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs. Red blood cells float around and typically live in your bloodstream for 3 months. When you eat, sugar from that food enters the bloodstream; it attaches to the red blood cells and sticks to hemoglobin molecules to form hemoglobin A1c. The more sugar that stays in your blood over time, the more sugar sticks to the cells, increasing your HbA1c levels. HbA1c tests are an important tool used for the screening, diagnosis, and management of all types of diabetes, as it shows if a person's blood sugar has been healthy over a long time, rather than just at the time of testing.

Signs and symptoms of diabetes may be hard to recognize or go unnoticed. You may consider discussing your risk factors for diabetes with your healthcare provider or getting an HbA1c Test if you're experiencing the following symptoms:

• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst
• Excessive hunger
• Extreme fatigue
• Dry mouth
• Dry eyes
• Blurred vision
• Yeast infections
• Unexplained weight loss
• Itchy skin
• Slow-healing cuts, bruises, or sores
• Pain, numbness, or tingling in the hands, feet, or legs
• Nausea and vomiting
• Extremely dry skin
• Frequent infections
• Darkening and thickening of the skin on the neck, elbows, underarms, knuckles, groin, or knees

Purchaser: You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a test on questhealth.com.

Patient: This test can be performed on patients between 10 and 100 years old. If this test will be performed on someone less than 18 years old:

• The appropriate age bracket needs to be selected during purchase
• Both parent/guardian (hereinafter "parent") and patient information will need to be provided during test registration
• Both parent and patient must be present for sample collection, the parent will need to have their identification available at collection
• Results will be provided to the listed parent

Sample collection: This test requires sample collection at a Quest Diagnostics location or through Quest Mobile® where available, a convenient option for in-home sample collection*. Collection is not available in AZ, HI, or PR.

*Check your zip code here for service availability, testing may not be available in all locations. Quest Mobile is currently only available for individuals ages 18+.

Please note: Laboratory testing for children under 18 years of age should always be conducted with the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider. Our tests are designed to support continuity of care, ease of access, and empower families with accessible health information. They are not a substitute for medical evaluation or ongoing care from a pediatrician. Parents should review test results with their child's healthcare provider to ensure appropriate interpretation, follow-up, and treatment in the context of the rest of your child's care. If your child is experiencing symptoms or you have concerns about their health, please contact your pediatrician or seek other medical care immediately.

Results are typically available within 1-2 business days of providing your sample—this includes sample processing, testing, and a clinical review before release.

You will receive a secure link to your email when your results are ready. If this test is performed on someone less than 18 years old, the results will be provided to the registered parent. They will be available in a clear, easy-to-read report. If you have, or create, a MyQuest® account, your results may also be available there—and for larger panel tests, you may be able to see individual results as each becomes available.

You may receive an alert call from an independent healthcare coordinator if some of your test results are outside of the expected ranges. Included with your purchase, you have the ability to talk to an independent healthcare provider who can walk you through test results, address any questions or concerns you have, and help you think through next steps.