From November 1, point-of-care glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) tests will be listed on Medicare, funding 190,000 tests for Australians with previously diagnosed diabetes.

Monitoring patients with diabetes is vitally important and early detection and effective therapy can delay the onset and progression of diabetes late complications, resulting in better outcomes for patients.

HbA1c is a blood test which shows how much glucose has been in the blood over a period of time. This is an important part of treating diabetes, as patients with a high HbA1c level are at greater risk of developing diabetes-related complications.

Currently, HbA1c testing is performed in labs, which requires a referral, and a visit to a collection centre to have blood drawn. The blood is then sent to a pathology lab and results are provided to the referring doctor. The patient then has another appointment to discuss the results.                                

The point-of-care tests will be done in the doctor’s surgery, by an appropriately trained GP or specialist guided by relevant quality and safety standards, providing immediate results.

The National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council (NPAAC) is working with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) on an accreditation standard for the use of point-of-care testing in laboratories and non-laboratory settings to support the listing of this item.