Medichecks Diabetes & blood sugar

Fructosamine Blood Test

A single blood test measuring fructosamine, used as a shorter-term alternative to HbA1c for tracking blood sugar control over the past two to three weeks. Suited to people whose red blood cell lifespan makes HbA1c less reliable.

  • Doctor reviewed
Sample
Blood
Collection
In-store clinic or home nurse visit or venous draw at clinic
Results in
7 days
Biomarkers
1
Doctor reviewed
Yes
Tests for
  • Fructosamine

Test specifications

Provider
Medichecks
Sample type
blood
Collection method
in-store clinic or home nurse visit or venous draw at clinic
Turnaround time
7 days
Biomarkers tested
1
At-home test
No
Doctor reviewed
Yes
Gender focus
Both

What's tested

1 biomarker as listed by Medichecks.

Diabetes

  • Fructosamine

About this test

Fructosamine reflects average blood sugar levels over the past two to three weeks, compared with the two to three months that HbA1c covers. It's typically used as a shorter-term view of glucose control, and can be a useful alternative to HbA1c for people whose red blood cells don't last the normal lifespan, for example due to anaemia, since that can distort an HbA1c result.

We don't currently track any other fructosamine tests to compare this one against directly, so no head-to-head pricing claims can be made. Against the wider set of similarly sized diabetes tests we track, £55 sits below the £66 median, which is reflected in a reasonable value for money score.

Clinical depth is naturally limited for a single-marker test, placing it around the 30th percentile of the diabetes tests we track by that measure, though depth was never the intention here. Collection scores are lower than some other Medichecks tests, since there's no at-home option: you'll need a venous draw at a clinic or with a home nurse, and results take around 7 days, among the longer turnarounds in this Medichecks batch.

Who is it for?

This is worth considering if you or your GP want a shorter-term view of blood sugar control than HbA1c provides, particularly if a condition affecting red blood cell lifespan, such as anaemia, makes HbA1c less reliable for you. It's a single-marker test, so if you want a broader diabetes or metabolic picture you would need a different panel.

We don't track a directly comparable fructosamine test to weigh this one against on price or depth, so treat the value for money score as relative to diabetes tests generally rather than to a like-for-like alternative.

How it works

This is a single-marker blood test for fructosamine, collected via a venous draw at an in-store clinic or with a home nurse visit; there is no at-home finger-prick option. Results are typically back in around 7 days, and every result is reviewed and commented on by a doctor.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Doctor's written comment included with the result.
  • Priced below the median for similarly sized diabetes tests we track.
  • Useful shorter-term alternative to HbA1c when red blood cell lifespan is a factor.

Cons

  • You can't do this one at home; it needs a venous draw at a clinic or with a nurse.
  • Turnaround of around 7 days, among the longer waits in this Medichecks batch.
  • No comparable fructosamine test in our data to weigh it against on price.

Our editorial score

Compare Health Test Score Fructosamine test, an alternative marker to HbA1c
Editorial confidence: 10.0/10

This is a single-marker fructosamine test priced at £55, used as a shorter-term alternative to HbA1c for tracking blood sugar control over the past two to three weeks. There are no directly comparable fructosamine tests in our data to benchmark it against, but it costs less than the £66 median for the diabetes tests we track of a similar size. Collection requires a venous draw at a clinic or nurse visit, with results in around 7 days.

Score breakdown

  • Clarity and documentation 8.0/10

    The listing publishes a short description, the full biomarker list, a stated turnaround, clear collection options, the sample type; it does not state what the report looks like.

  • Clinical depth 6.3/10

    1 biomarkers, placing it in the 30th percentile of diabetes tests we track.

  • Collection convenience 8.0/10

    A blood sample taken at home by a visiting nurse or phlebotomist; with a venous or clinic option as well; a home nurse visit is offered; results in around 7 days, slower than similar tests.

  • Results and follow-up 7.0/10

    Results are reviewed by a doctor; the provider does not describe the report format.

  • Trust signals 9.5/10

    Trustpilot 4.5 from 2,477 reviews; accredited lab (UKAS ISO 15189 partner labs); doctor review as standard; trading 25+ years.

  • Value for money 7.3/10

    £55.00 against a median of £66.00 for the 18 similarly sized diabetes tests we track (-17%).

Calculated 13 September 2026 from the facts we hold about this test and provider, using our published scoring formula. Scores are not hand-edited.

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