What you can expect

During the A1C test, a member of your health care team takes a blood sample by inserting a needle into a vein in your arm or pricking your finger tip with a small, pointed lancet. If the blood is taken from a vein, the blood sample is sent to a lab for analysis.

Blood from a finger prick may be analyzed in your doctor's office for same-day results. This in-office test is only used for monitoring your treatment plan, not for diagnosis or screening.