A1c may not be a true reflection of glycemia during pregnancy primarily because of both the decreased life span of the red blood cell from about 120 days to about 90 days as well as increased erythropoietin production.
Can an A1C test be wrong?
A falsely high A1C result can occur in people who are very low in iron; for example, those with iron-deficiency anemia link. Other causes of false A1C results include kidney failure or liver disease.
What factors can affect the accuracy of your A1C test?
Several factors can falsely increase or decrease your A1C result, including:
- Kidney failure, liver disease, or severe anemia.
- A less common type of hemoglobin that people of African, Mediterranean, or Southeast Asian descent and people with certain blood disorders (such as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia) may have.
