Which of the following lab tests measures short-term blood glucose control?

The lab test that measures short-term blood glucose control is the HbA1c test. This test reflects the average blood glucose levels over the past two to three months by measuring the percentage of glycated hemoglobin in the blood. Glycated hemoglobin forms when glucose in the bloodstream attaches to hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen.

While HbA1c is primarily used to assess long-term glucose control, the reference to "short-term" in the context of this question likely means the recent history of glucose levels, as it provides an indication of how well blood sugar levels have been managed over the preceding weeks.

In contrast, fasting glucose, the oral glucose tolerance test, and random blood glucose primarily assess current glucose levels rather than a historical average. Fasting glucose measures blood sugar levels after a period of fasting (usually overnight), whereas the oral glucose tolerance test evaluates how the body processes glucose after consuming a sugary drink, and random blood glucose provides a snapshot of blood sugar levels at any given moment. These tests are useful in diagnosing diabetes but do not give the same insight into average glucose control over time as HbA1c does.