Reagents

The determination of HbA1c is performed for the long term control in diabetes mellitus. HbA1c values provide an indication of the average glucose levels over the preceding 4-8 weeks. A high HbA1c value indicates poor glycemic control. Long term therapy of the disease requires control of blood glucose levels to prevent the acute complications of ketosis and hyperglycemia. In addition, preventing effective control of blood glucose levels can minimize long term complications such as retinopathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease.

Immunoassay for the direct photometric determination of HbA1c in whole blood with EDTA.

Microalbuminuria is considered a clinically important indicator of deteriorating renal function in diabetic subjects and regular screening is valuable in monitoring these patients. Prospective studies have demonstrated that increased urinary albumin excretion precedes and is highly predictive of diabetic nephropathy, end stage renal disease, and proliferative retinopathy in type I diabetes. In patients with type II diabetes increased urinary albumin excretion is an independent predictor of progressive renal disease, atherosclerotic disease and cardiovascular mortality. Increased urinary albumin excretion, both independently and in conjunction with hyperinsulinemia, identifies a group of nondiabetic subjects at increased risk of coronary vascular disease.

Immunoturbidimetric test for the quantitative determination of mircoalbumin in collected urine or random midstream urine.