A patient seated in the chair before a blood draw
In person

Hemoglobin A1c

Your three-month average blood sugar, from one blood draw.

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  • 2,000+ lab locations. Find one near you
  • Nothing due at the lab. FSA / HSA accepted
  • Ordered by a licensed clinician

At a glance

Collection
Blood draw
A standard blood draw at the lab.
Preparation
None
Nothing to do ahead of time. Water is fine.
Results
1 to 2 days
Typical turnaround after your visit.
Where
2,000+ lab locations
Nationwide, with nothing due at the lab.

About this test

A1c reflects your average blood sugar over roughly the past three months, because sugar attaches to hemoglobin in red blood cells for their whole lifespan. That makes it steadier than a single glucose reading, and it is a standard check for prediabetes and diabetes. No fasting is needed.

For adults 18 and older. Test availability varies by lab location.

Who should take this test?

This test is often used by adults who want to check their blood sugar, including people with prediabetes or diabetes who track it over time. Commonly related symptoms include:

Body

  • Increased thirst
  • Fatigue
  • Slow-healing cuts

Groin

  • Frequent urination

Eyes

  • Blurry vision

Weight

  • Unexplained weight change

Family history

  • Diabetes in the family

Ask about this test

Not sure this is the right test?

AI-generated. For information only, not medical advice. Call 911 for an emergency.

What does this test measure?

Your result shows how your blood sugar has averaged over the past few months, which can help you and a healthcare provider see a trend and decide whether a follow-up test makes sense.

Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)
Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. As sugar circulates in your blood, some of it attaches to hemoglobin and stays for the life of the cell, about three months. HbA1c is the percentage of hemoglobin with sugar attached, reflecting your average blood sugar over that time.
Why it’s measured: To see your average blood sugar over roughly the past three months.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Order online

    Check out here. A licensed clinician in your state reviews your order and sends it to the lab.

  2. Step 2

    Visit a lab

    Bring a photo ID to any of 2,000+ lab locations. No fasting needed, and nothing is due at the lab.

  3. Step 3

    Get your results

    Results post to your account, usually in 1 to 2 days, each number next to the lab’s reference range.

Find a lab near you

Choose from 2,000+ lab locations nationwide. Your order works at any of them.

What your results tell you

A1c is the share of your hemoglobin with sugar attached, reported as a percentage. Many medical organizations read it like this.

  • < 5.7%Typical
  • 5.7–6.4%Prediabetes range
  • ≥ 6.5%Diabetes range
  • Your number next to the lab’s reference range
  • Explained in plain language
  • A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test.
  • A lab report you can download and share

Only a healthcare provider can diagnose diabetes, usually by confirming with a repeat test. Share your results with yours.

A1c, glucose, or insulin?

Three blood sugar markers, three different views.

A1c

Your average blood sugar over about three months.

Looks back
About three months
Useful for
Seeing a longer-term trend
Preparation
None

Clinical-grade testing, from the comfort of home.

From the lab to your report, every step of our process meets the gold standard in medical testing.

  • CLIA-certified labs

    Every lab we partner with is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, meeting both state and federal standards with regular independent inspections.

  • We protect your health data

    We protect your health data with encryption and do not sell it. Some results must be reported to public health authorities by law. See our Privacy Notice.

  • Rigorous quality assurance

    All partner labs run regular internal quality checks, participate in proficiency testing, and comply with federal and state lab regulations.

  • Clinician-reviewed reports

    Results are reviewed by an independent, licensed clinician.

Questions

Common questions.

Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.

Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. As sugar circulates in your blood, some of it attaches to hemoglobin and stays there for the life of the cell, which is about three months.

A1c is the share of hemoglobin with sugar attached, so it reflects your average blood sugar over that time rather than at one moment.

No. A1c reflects your average blood sugar over about three months, so one meal barely moves it. You can test at any time of day, and water is fine. If you add a fasting glucose or insulin test to the same visit, follow the fasting instructions for those tests.

A1c depends on the usual lifespan of red blood cells. Anything that changes that lifespan, such as anemia, recent blood loss or a transfusion, or some inherited hemoglobin differences, can shift the number up or down.

That is one reason A1c is often read alongside a glucose result, and why a healthcare provider may use a different test in some situations.

A1c does not show the highs and lows within a day, and one result on its own does not diagnose diabetes. A value near a cutoff is usually repeated before any label is applied. A healthcare provider can explain what your number means for you and whether other tests would help.

No. This test is not for emergencies. If thirst or frequent urination comes with vomiting, belly pain, fast or deep breathing, or confusion, or if you faint, get emergency care right away rather than waiting for a lab visit or a result.

Lab tests are informational and don’t diagnose conditions on their own. Available to adults 18 and older; test availability varies by lab location. A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test. All testing is performed at CLIA-certified laboratories. Not for emergencies: if you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911.