There are more than 500
pathology laboratories
nationwide, but few people
know what goes on inside
them. These labs process tests
for the 1.25 million Australians
living with diabetes. For every
diabetes test performed, at
least 10 people are involved,
including collectors, couriers,
medical scientists, technicians,
IT specialists, registrars and
pathologists.
“Diabetes is defined
by pathology tests,” says
Pathology Awareness Australia
ambassador, Associate
Professor Graham Jones.
“We have no other tools to
see if we’re winning against the
condition. Trying to manage
diabetes without pathology
is like trying to drive a car
without a steering wheel!”
It is recommended that
people with diabetes have
regular haemoglobin A1c
blood tests, which indicate the
level of long-term blood sugar
control. The term haemoglobin
A1c (HbA1c) refers to glycated
haemoglobin. This develops
when haemoglobin, a protein
within red blood cells, joins
with glucose in the blood,
becoming ‘glycated’.
By measuring HbA1c,
clinicians can get an overall
picture of the average blood
glucose levels over a three-
month period.
Understanding your HbA1c
levels can help you to manage
diabetes by choosing the best
treatments to optimise your
blood glucose levels.
Taking proactive action on
regular HbA1c results can alsohelp reduce your risk of
health complications.
Unlike the fasting glucose
test, there is no need to fast
before a HbA1c test. The
ingestion of glucose before
the test has no impact on the
result, and there is no waiting
time involved. The convenience
and reliability of HbA1c testing
makes it easier to screen those
at risk of diabetes and provides
the opportunity for early
diagnosis and intervention.
Here, Jones explains the
journey of an HbA1c test.SAMPLE COLLECTION
This is the only part of
pathology that is seen by the
public. Phlebotomists, more
commonly known as collectors,
are trained to accurately
collect and store patients’BEHIND
THE
scenesHOW PATHOLOGISTS ANALYSE YOUR TEST
SPECIMEN DELIVERY
SAMPLE COLLECTION