How to Measure Your A1c at Home

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The A1c test, also known as glycated hemoglobin, hemoglobin A1c, or HbA1c, is essential for anyone living with diabetes. 

While it doesn’t provide a complete picture of your diabetes management, it serves as an important indicator of whether your average blood glucose (sugar) levels are within a healthy range for you. 

Today, I’ll guide you through the steps to measure your A1c easily and accurately at home. 

We’ll also explore what the A1c test reveals, why it’s important, and how to understand the results.

What is an A1c test?

The A1c test, a blood test, measures your average blood glucose levels over the past 2 to 3 months and is reported as a percentage. Typically, people without diabetes have an A1c below 5.7 percent. 

This test serves as a valuable tool for diagnosing diabetes and evaluating the effectiveness of your diabetes management strategy.

The ADA provides the following guidelines for using the A1c test in diagnosing diabetes in nonpregnant:

A1c Level	What It Means
Less than 5.7 percent	Normal
5.7 percent to 6.4 percent	Prediabetes, meaning at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes
6.5 percent or greater	Diagnosed diabetes (with a second result for confirmation)

The ADA recommends that many non-pregnant people with diabetes aim for an A1c of 7 percent or lower, which corresponds to an average blood sugar level of roughly 154 mg/dL (8.6 mmol/L). 

Learn more in: How to Translate Your A1c to a Blood Sugar Level.

While some may target A1c levels closer to the normal range, it is crucial to avoid overly aggressive reductions that can lead to dangerous hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

It’s important to personalize your A1c target in consultation with your healthcare provider, allowing adjustments as needed to suit your health needs and lifestyle.

Why is it important to measure your A1c

Monitoring your A1c is important as elevated blood sugars can lead to numerous short- and long-term diabetes complications. Keeping your A1c at a healthy level helps reduce these risks. 

If your A1c levels begin to go above your target, you can take several steps to lower them, such as adjusting your medication with your healthcare provider’s guidance, altering your diet, increasing your physical activity, and making other lifestyle changes. 

Read more in: How to Lower Your A1c: The Complete Guide.

Since the A1c test provides a snapshot of your average blood sugar levels over the last 2 to 3 months, it’s recommended to measure your A1c at least quarterly in people newly diagnosed and/or whose glucose levels are consistently above their target range. 

This regular monitoring helps you track the effectiveness of your diabetes management strategies.

For those who have steady glucose levels within their target, A1c testing may be recommended at least twice a year.

How to use the A1c home test kit

Measuring your A1c at home can be beneficial for several reasons, including limited access to see your healthcare provider, the distance to a lab, or the cost of lab work. 

While there are several excellent options for home A1c testing at home, it is important to consult with your medical team before making any changes to your diabetes care or attempting to diagnose yourself.

One cost-effective option is the CVS A1C At Home Test Kit, which I demonstrate in the video below. This kit can deliver your A1c results on the spot in just 5 minutes. 

A1c home test kit general instructions

Although exact instructions vary from kit to kit, general guidelines are as follows:

1. Prepare your testing area by laying out all necessary equipment in a clean and dry area.
2. Ensure your hands are clean for the procedure. You can wash them thoroughly with soap and water and dry them completely, or use an alcohol prep pad and wait for the alcohol to dry.
3. Use the lancet on the side of your fingertip to minimize discomfort (avoid the fingertip pad as it may be more painful), and gently press to produce a small drop of blood.
4. Position the blood collector against the blood drop, letting it absorb enough blood as specified by the manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Attach the filled blood collector to the shaker device, secure it, and then shake vigorously for about 5 to 8 seconds to mix the sample with the solution.
6. Open the test cartridge, insert it into the A1c analyzer, and use the base of the shaker to transfer the solution into the analyzer as directed. Once done, remove the base.
7. Allow the device to process the results, which typically takes about 5 minutes. Avoid handling the analyzer during this time to ensure accuracy.
8. Record your A1c result along with the date.
9. Properly dispose of the used test cartridge and retain the analyzer for future use.

To ensure accuracy, follow the instructions included with your kit carefully and provide enough blood for the test, as insufficient samples may lead to errors. 

Consider reading through the kit instructions prior to beginning the test to familiarize yourself with the steps. Also be sure to check the expiration date on your kit and store it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Are home A1c test kits accurate?

Home A1c test kits are generally considered to be as accurate as those performed in laboratories. Typically, these kits provide results with a precision of plus or minus 0.5 percentage points, which is about the same as most standard lab tests.

For guaranteed accuracy, it’s important to select kits that are NGSP-certified (National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program), which ensures they meet rigorous testing standards similar to those used in professional laboratories. 

Additionally, look for kits that have U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance or carry the Conformité Européenne (CE) mark. 

FDA clearance indicates that the product has been assessed and deemed safe and effective for use in the United States, while the CE mark shows compliance with health and safety standards within the European Economic Area. 

These certifications help ensure that the products meet rigorous health, safety, and environmental protection standards.

In my own experience using the A1CNow SelfCheck at home — demonstrated in the video above — the results matched perfectly with those from a lab test conducted at Quest Diagnostics just a few days prior. At least in my case, this confirms the reliability to me of certified home testing kits in real-world conditions.

How much does an A1c test kit cost?

The CVS A1C At Home Test Kit kit costs $52.79 on Amazon for a kit containing two tests as of December 2024. This was the most affordable option I found, though prices for similar home A1c kits on Amazon generally range from $60 to $100. (Prices for kits containing a single test can be as low as about $35.)

Home A1c kits are also available at major pharmacies like CVS and Walmart. 

Additionally, there are kits that require you to collect a blood sample and send it to a lab. These kits necessitate collecting more blood (four to five large droplets) and may involve a wait time of up to 4 weeks for results, depending on mail speeds to and from the lab, as I have experienced.

Is it covered by insurance?

Most health insurance plans, including private and government plans, typically cover blood work prescribed by your doctor and conducted in a laboratory. 

However, coverage for at-home A1c test kits is less certain unless the kit is specifically prescribed by a healthcare provider.

To determine if your plan covers these at-home kits, you should contact your insurance company or review your plan’s benefits. If covered, your insurer may recommend a preferred brand or specify a process for obtaining your kit.

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