Diabetes

How the A1c test works

Quo-Test measures the change in fluorescence of a patented reagent when it reacts with glycated haemoglobin in a patient's blood sample. A second photometric measurement is then used to normalise haemoglobin concentration and sample volume. This technology, originally conceived at London's St. Bartholomew's Hospital, confers many operating, performance and manufacturing advantages unmatched by any alternative approach to A1c testing.

The system comprises a desktop analyser or reader and a disposable cartridge. In addition, there is a bar-code wand for scanning the individual batch data on each cartridge, and an inkjet printer for output of each test result.

The cartridge comes in a foil pouch, with a shelf life of up to 2 years at 2-8°C. It contains a blood collection tool which collects a small amount of blood (under 5μl) from a fingerprick, and is then introduced into the cartridge. This is then inserted into the reader. The test starts automatically when the door is closed

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