Effect of acute blood loss on glycosylated hemoglobin determinations in normal subjects.

Nondiabetic adult subjects (N = 12) were studied to determine the effect of an approximately 450-ml acute blood loss upon glycosylated hemoglobin measurements. After blood loss, the hematocrit significantly decreased by week 1 (P less than 0.001) and the reticulocyte count peaked by week 2. All glycosylated hemoglobins measured showed significant decreases post blood loss. The nadir was at week 4 for total A1, A1c, and irreversible A1c by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and at week 6 for irreversible A1 by HPLC and A1 by electrophoresis. The mean percent decrease in glycosylated hemoglobins ranged from 4.6% (irreversible A1 by HPLC) to 8.6% (total A1c by HPLC).