HbA1c test: 2026 price, preparation and turnaround time

indekscen.pl editorial team · published 30 September 2026 · prices according to the 5 October 2026 index

A glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) test at a private laboratory most often costs PLN 61 (typically PLN 56 ‑ 65), depending on the laboratory chain and collection point. This is several times more than a fasting glucose test at PLN 14, but HbA1c shows the average blood sugar level over approximately three months and does not require fasting.

HbA1c is one of the simplest diabetes-related tests: a single blood sample, with no fasting and no waiting around at the collection point. Below, we compile prices from major laboratory chains, compare HbA1c with fasting glucose and the oral glucose tolerance test, and explain how to prepare and when to expect the result. We do not interpret results: that is a doctor’s responsibility.

How much does a glycated haemoglobin test cost?

A private glycated haemoglobin test most often costs PLN 61, according to 4 laboratory price lists collected by indekscen.pl, while half of the prices fall within PLN 56 ‑ 65. The cheapest offer in our sources is PLN 52, and the most expensive is PLN 79.

The variation is mainly due to location. Even within the same laboratory chain, prices may differ between collection points, and some chains quote prices ‘from’ a certain amount because they depend on the city and current promotions. Some laboratories also offer lower prices when the test is purchased online rather than at reception. You can find the full list of prices and quotations from price lists on the glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) test page.

HbA1c, glucose or an oral glucose tolerance test: which should you choose?

HbA1c, fasting glucose and an oral glucose tolerance test measure different things, so doctors often order them together or one after another. Fasting glucose shows your blood sugar level at the time the sample is taken, an oral glucose tolerance test checks how your body responds to a dose of glucose, and HbA1c shows the average over the previous three months or so.

Test	Typical price	Fasting required?	What it shows
Glycated haemoglobin HbA1c	PLN 56 ‑ 65	no	average blood sugar level over approx. 3 months
Fasting glucose	PLN 14 ‑ 17	yes	blood sugar level when the sample is taken
Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)	PLN 40 ‑ 47	yes	response to a dose of glucose, with samples taken before and after 2 hours
Fasting insulin	PLN 63 ‑ 69	yes	insulin concentration, used with glucose to calculate HOMA-IR

Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.

The cheapest first step is a fasting glucose test at around PLN 14. HbA1c costs more, but a single result provides more information about a longer period and does not depend on what you ate the previous day. You can read more about glucose and insulin in our articles on fasting glucose testing and glucose and insulin testing: price. A doctor will decide which test is appropriate in your situation.

How should you prepare for a glycated haemoglobin test?

You do not need any special preparation or to fast before a glycated haemoglobin test. HbA1c is the portion of haemoglobin in red blood cells to which glucose has attached, and red blood cells live for around three months. This means that eating a single meal before the test will not affect the result.

In practice, however, there are a few things worth remembering:

1. Combine tests. If you are also having blood taken for glucose, cholesterol or insulin during the same visit, come in the morning after fasting, as these tests require it.
2. Mention anaemia, bleeding or a transfusion. Conditions that alter the lifespan of red blood cells can distort the HbA1c result. A full blood count usually costs PLN 23 ‑ 29, and doctors often order it together with HbA1c.
3. Bring a list of your medicines. A doctor will interpret the result and should know what treatment you are receiving.
4. Check the price at the specific collection point. Prices at different locations within the same chain range from PLN 52 to PLN 79.

How long does an HbA1c result take?

An HbA1c result usually takes one to two working days, and many laboratories provide it on the same day or the following day. The collection point will give you the exact turnaround time when you purchase the test. Results are usually provided online, through a patient account or using a code from the receipt.

Results can sometimes take longer at small collection points that send samples to a central laboratory, and at weekends. If you need the result for a specific medical appointment, have the test done a few days in advance.

What does an elevated glycated haemoglobin result indicate?

An elevated glycated haemoglobin result means that your average blood sugar level over the past few weeks and months was higher than normal. The laboratory provides a reference range with the result, so you can immediately see whether the value is within that range. A result above the reference range is not in itself a diagnosis: a doctor will assess HbA1c alongside glucose levels, symptoms and other tests.

What glycated haemoglobin level indicates diabetes?

The HbA1c threshold used to diagnose diabetes is specified in guidelines issued by diabetes associations, and a doctor applies it alongside other criteria, usually after confirmation with a second test. We do not provide thresholds or interpretations here because diagnosis is a doctor’s responsibility. If your result is outside the reference range, make an appointment with a GP or diabetologist and bring a printout of the result.

What should glycated haemoglobin be during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, gestational diabetes is diagnosed primarily using an oral glucose tolerance test rather than HbA1c. A private glucose tolerance test usually costs PLN 40 ‑ 47, but during pregnancy it can be ordered by the doctor overseeing the pregnancy through the NFZ, making it free of charge. HbA1c may be ordered for women who were diagnosed with diabetes before pregnancy, and the doctor overseeing the pregnancy will set the target values. Direct any questions about test results during pregnancy to your gynaecologist or diabetologist.

How much does a set of diabetes tests cost?

A set of diabetes tests purchased separately, consisting of HbA1c, fasting glucose and insulin, is the sum of three items: around PLN 61, PLN 14 and PLN 66. If your doctor also orders an oral glucose tolerance test, add around PLN 45, while a full blood count costing around PLN 25 is often performed at the same time.

Not everyone needs all these tests at once. A GP will usually start with fasting glucose, adding HbA1c and an oral glucose tolerance test if the result is inconclusive or if risk factors are present, such as a family history of diabetes, being overweight or having high blood pressure. Buying the entire set on your own initiative mainly makes sense if you know that you will be taking the results to a doctor anyway.

For people who cannot travel to a collection point, some laboratories offer home blood collection. This service costs extra, separately from the tests themselves, and usually needs to be booked in advance.

How can you pay less for an HbA1c test?

An HbA1c test is free with a referral, while those paying privately can save money by comparing laboratories. Here are a few options:

• Ask for a referral. A GP can order an HbA1c test through the NFZ when medically indicated.
• Buy online. Some chains offer lower prices through their online shops than at reception.
• Compare collection points in your city. The median is PLN 61, but the cheapest locations charge PLN 52.
• Check test packages. Laboratories sell diabetes test packages containing glucose, HbA1c and sometimes a lipid profile. Compare the package price with the total cost of the individual tests.

You can find more laboratory test prices in the health category. We discuss the cost of a lipid profile, which is often performed alongside blood sugar tests, in our article on private cholesterol testing.

„Cena badania hemoglobiny glikowanej (HbA1c) waha się od 55,00 zł do 79,00 zł, w zależności od punktu pobrań.”

Synevo, 2025-09, source

„od 57,00 zł”

Epolmed, 2025-08, source

„Warszawa. Od 64,13 PLN”

Diagnostyka (diag.pl), 2025-08, source

„Cena: 52.00 zł brutto.”

ClinicLab, source

The prices in this article come from public laboratory price lists. Each price has a source, date and verbatim quotation on the service page. This article is not a substitute for medical advice.

Frequently asked questions

Is an HbA1c test covered by the NFZ?

Tak, jeśli lekarz rodzinny albo diabetolog wystawi skierowanie, badanie HbA1c jest bezpłatne. Bez skierowania można je wykonać prywatnie, zwykle za PLN 56 ‑ 65.

Do you need a referral for an HbA1c test?

Prywatnie nie. Badanie HbA1c można kupić w każdej sieci laboratoriów bez skierowania, mediana ceny to PLN 61. Wynik warto potem omówić z lekarzem.

Which is cheaper: an HbA1c test or an oral glucose tolerance test?

Krzywa cukrowa kosztuje zwykle PLN 40 ‑ 47, czyli mniej niż HbA1c za PLN 56 ‑ 65. Krzywa trwa jednak około dwóch godzin i wymaga bycia na czczo, a HbA1c to jedno szybkie pobranie o dowolnej porze.

How often should glycated haemoglobin be tested?

Częstotliwość ustala lekarz. Osoby z cukrzycą badają HbA1c zwykle co kilka miesięcy, bo wynik obejmuje mniej więcej trzy miesiące. Przy badaniu co trzy miesiące prywatnie wychodzi rocznie około PLN 240, ze skierowaniem badanie jest bezpłatne.

Can HbA1c be tested at home?

Są domowe testy z kropli krwi z palca, ale do diagnozy i kontroli leczenia lekarze opierają się na wyniku z laboratorium. Część laboratoriów oferuje pobranie krwi w domu pacjenta za dodatkową opłatą, doliczaną do ceny badania.

Translation of the original Polish article dated 30 September 2026. Quotations from price lists are in Polish, as published by the companies. Read the original in Polish.

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