Fructosamine (Serum)
This test measures the average blood sugar levels over the past 2–3 weeks by tracking glycated proteins, reflecting how your body has managed glucose levels recently.
["Helps assess long-term blood sugar control in diabetes or prediabetes."]
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 110017-1
- Short code
- Fructose Msmt Smn
- Synonyms
- Fructose Msmt Smn
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Red-top tube (SST)
- Units
- N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Specimen volume
- 5 mL
- Stability
- Room temperature: 4h, Refrigerated: 24h, Frozen: 7d
- Hemolysis max
- 500
- Lipemia max
- 1000
- Icterus max
- 500
- TAT
- 4–24 hours
- Order
- routine
Why Is This Test Done?
Your healthcare provider may order a fructosamine test if you have diabetes or are at risk for it. It’s useful for monitoring how well your blood sugar is controlled over time, especially if you don’t have access to frequent hemoglobin A1c tests or if you’re using insulin and need to track recent glucose trends.
How Is the Test Performed?
A blood sample is taken from a vein, usually in your arm. The sample is sent to a lab where it’s analyzed using an immunoassay method to measure the glycated proteins in your serum.
What Do the Results Mean?
Results don’t come with a standard reference range, but they’re compared to your baseline or trends over time. Higher levels may indicate poor blood sugar control, while lower levels might suggest improved management.
What Are the Benefits?
Unlike hemoglobin A1c, which reflects average glucose over 2–3 months, fructosamine gives a snapshot of glycation over the past 2–3 weeks, useful for recent adjustments in treatment (e.g., insulin dose changes).
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
Fructosamine is particularly valuable for patients using insulin or other glucose-lowering medications, as it provides real-time feedback on how well their current regimen is controlling blood sugar. It’s also useful for monitoring in conditions like chronic kidney disease or liver disease, where protein metabolism can affect glycation levels. However, it’s less commonly used than hemoglobin A1c for routine screening due to its shorter half-life and variability with certain medications or conditions.
Short name
Fructosamine Level
Frequently asked questions
How often should I expect this test?
Can I eat or drink before this test?
Will this test affect my insulin or medication doses?
Sources
- 1
- 2Lab Tests OnlineSource
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy