Is GHb the same thing as hemoglobin A1C (pronounced A-one-C)?
All hemoglobin-glucose linkages are considered to be glycohemoglobins or GHbs. Hemoglobin A1C (also written HbA1C) is a very specific GHb in which the hemoglobin-glucose linkage takes place at only one place on the hemoglobin molecule. Some GHb test methods measure only hemoglobin A1C while others measure all GHbs together. Other terms you may encounter include hemoglobin A1, total glycated hemoglobin, or total GHb. Again, these are just different forms of GHb. It doesnt matter which form of GHb is measured. Each can provide the same useful information about your average blood glucose levels. What complicates things is that different GHb tests give different numbers. A “7 percent” on one test is the same as a “9 percent” using another test, even though both indicate the same average blood glucose level. This problem will be solved only when all test numbers are reported on the same scale. The American Diabetes Association and many Canadian organisations are working hard to develop stan
