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2008 New Test Information Index

Mean Plasma Glucose

AMS

Mean Plasma Glucose (Effective March 25, 2008)


Mean Plasma Glucose
AMS Laboratory is now reporting a Mean Plasma Glucose (MPG) with HbA1c results. Glycohemoglobin, measured as HbA1c, has long been used as a tool for monitoring glycemic control. MPG is a calculation that converts the HbA1c result into a result easily compared to a plasma glucose.

There is a good reason for physicians and patients to become accustomed to seeing HbA1c reported as MPG. There is an international effort to standardize HbA1c test results, and the new gold standard will result in HbA1c values approximately 2.0 units lower than what we have been accustomed to seeing in this country. There is a fear that these lower values will give physicians and patients the illusion that one’s glycemic control has suddenly improved, simply because the number is lower. Reference ranges for HbA1c will be adjusted to reflect the lower values, but after years of interpreting results a certain way, it may prove difficult to make the adjustment. MPG is a tool to help with this adjustment.

We don’t know when the international standardization of HbA1c will take place, but it is highly likely that instrument vendors will soon start assigning new values to their standard solutions. When this happens, HbA1c numbers will be lower. At that time, the MPG calculation will be adjusted to reflect the effect of the new standardization.

How Does Glycohemoglobin (GHB) Relate to Mean Plasma Glucose (MPG)

GHB(%)
Mean Blood Glucose
(mg/dL)
Mean Plasma Glucose
(mg/dL)*
Interpretation
4
61
67
Non-Diabetic Range
5
92
103
6
124
136
7
156
173
ADA Target#
8
188
208
Action Suggested#
9
219
243
10
251
278
11
283
314
12
314
349

*MPG=MBG X 1.11 (Clin Chem 1998;44:655-59)
#Diabetes Care 1999;22 (Suppl. 1):S32-S41

Please direct questions or concerns to Bill Combs, Lab Manager at 316-858-8804.

You can visit: www.ngsp.org for info concerning MPG.

 

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