Point-of-care HbA1c testing for patients with diagnosed diabetes

From 1 November 2021, point-of-care (PoC) testing for glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) has been listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) for the monitoring of diabetes in patients with diagnosed diabetes.

New MBS item 73812 is for the quantitation of HbA1c performed in the management of established diabetes when performed as a PoC test by or on behalf of a medical practitioner who works in a general practice that is accredited against the PoC testing accreditation module under the National General Practice Accreditation Scheme (NGPAS).

New MBS item 73826 is for the quantitation of HbA1c performed in the management of established diabetes when performed as a PoC test by a nurse practitioner who works in a general practice that is accredited against the PoC testing accreditation model under the NGPAS.

A test performed under either item 73812 or 73826 must use instrumentation certified under the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP) with a total coefficient of variation less than 3.0% at 48 mmol/mol (6.5%). These specifications ensure appropriate instrumentation is used for PoC testing.

PDF version Factsheet Point-of-care HbA1c testing for patients with diagnosed diabetes (PDF 166 KB)

Word version Factsheet Point-of-care HbA1c testing for patients with diagnosed diabetes (Word 92 KB)