Description
A Fructosamine blood test measures glycated proteins in the blood and provides an estimate of a person's average blood glucose over approximately the previous 2–3 weeks.
Because it reflects a shorter period than Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fructosamine can be useful when a more recent picture of blood sugar control is desired.
What Does This Test Evaluate?
Fructosamine testing can help:
- Assess recent average blood glucose levels
- Monitor short-term changes in glucose control
- Evaluate response to changes in diabetes treatment
- Provide additional information when HbA1c may be unreliable
- Monitor glucose control when a shorter-term assessment is needed
Why Test Fructosamine?
HbA1c generally reflects glucose levels over the previous 2–3 months. Fructosamine reflects a much shorter period, making it useful for evaluating recent changes.
It may also be considered when conditions affecting red blood cells or hemoglobin make HbA1c difficult to interpret, such as certain anemias, hemoglobin variants, recent blood loss, or altered red blood cell lifespan.
Because fructosamine is influenced by blood protein levels, results should be interpreted carefully in individuals with conditions that significantly affect serum proteins or albumin.
Specimen: Blood draw Preparation: No fasting typically required
