Evaluation of the fructosamine test for the measurement of plasma protein glycation.

Repeated estimation of plasma protein glycation by the fructosamine assay gave more variable results than expected from analytical variability (coefficient of variation approximately 2%). Fructosamine results obtained on plasma samples drawn at different times of the day differed by up to 1 mmol/l, corresponding to a coefficient of variation of greater than 10%. As a consequence, the information concerning averaged glycaemia of a fructosamine determination is subject to an uncertainty of 7.8 mmol/l. Fructosamine concentrations were linearly related to the protein concentration. Correction for the protein concentration decreased this variability; however, factors other than protein concentration, such as lipid content, also influence results of fructosamine determinations.