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Hemoglobin A1c

CPT: 83036

Expected Turnaround Time

24 Hours

Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.

Specimen Requirements

Specimen

Whole Blood

Container

EDTA (Lavender Top Tube)

Storage Instructions

Room Temp., Refrigerated (2-8 C)

Stability Requirements

Room temp. 7 days., Refrigerated 7 days

Test Details

Additional Information

The A1C test is a blood test that provides information about the body’s average levels of blood glucose, also called blood sugar, over the past 3 months. The A1C test can be used to diagnose type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. The A1C test is also the primary test used for diabetes management.

Glucose is the type of sugar that the body uses as its principal energy source. The body makes or receives glucose from food intake. The glucose enters the blood and is taken up by the body’s cells with the help of a hormone called insulin.

Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Measurement of hemoglobin A1c reflects the percentage of hemoglobin A that is attached to glucose compared to the total amount of hemoglobin A in the blood.

The hemoglobin A1c test may have several purposes:

Screening for prediabetes and diabetes: If a person is over 40 and obese, overweight, or otherwise at high risk for diabetes, the doctor may want to check for health conditions before the person is experiencing symptoms. The test can be used for diabetes screening, but the results may need to be confirmed by repeating the test or using another type of test.
Diagnosing prediabetes and diabetes: This uses tests and procedures to find out the cause of health changes. A doctor may order hemoglobin A1c and other tests if the person has symptoms or shows signs of diabetes. Symptoms can include excessive thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, tingling or loss of sensation in the feet and hands, and feeling extremely tired.
Monitoring diabetes: If the person has been diagnosed with diabetes, a doctor may order this test at least twice a year. This gives the doctor an idea of how well blood glucose has been controlled in the months between appointments and allows them to adjust to the treatment plan and lower the chance of health problems.

Footnotes

Gillett MJ. International Expert Committee report on the role of the A1C assay in the diagnosis of diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2009;32(7):1327–1334.
American Diabetes Association. 2. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2018. Diabetes Care. 2018;41(suppl 1):S13–S27.

Statement on Medical Necessity
All ordered tests should be medically necessary for the diagnosis or detection of disease, illness, impairment, symptom, syndrome, or disorder and the results should be used in the medical management and treatment decisions for the patient. Solaris requires ICD-10 codes with each order for lab testing and both the tests ordered and the diagnosis should be documented in the provider’s medical record for the patient. The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, takes the position that a provider who orders medically unnecessary tests may be subject to civil penalties.

Panels and Profiles
Solaris offers Providers the convenience of ordering test combinations in a group at times with the flexibility to choose appropriate test(s) for individual patients. Providers should only order those tests that he or she believes are medically necessary for each patient, and a lesser inclusive profile or individual tests should be ordered if not all tests in the test combination/profile are medically necessary. All tests offered in a test combination/profile may be ordered separately as individual tests. Solaris encourages clients to contact their Solaris representative if the testing configurations shown do not meet individual needs for any reason, or if some other combination of procedures is needed.

CPT Codes
CPT Codes listed are in accordance with Current Procedural Terminology, a publication of the American Medical Association. CPT codes are the responsibility of the billing party and are listed here for informational purposes. Correct coding may vary from one carrier to another. Solaris may bill specific carriers using codes other than what is shown.

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Questions?

For questions or inquiries related to testing please reach out to
customerservice@solarisdx.com or contact us by phone at (844) 550-0308.