Amounts of beta-N-terminal glycohemoglobins (HbX1c), serum fructosamine, and erythrocyte polyamines were determined in nondiabetic adults with HbAA, HbAC, HbAS, HbCC, HbSC, HbSS, and HbS/hereditary persistent HbF (HPFH). The groups did not differ in fructosamine concentrations. Mean (95% confidence limits) HbX1c percentages were: 4.4 (4.1-4.8) for HbA1c in HbAA, 4.3 (3.9-4.8) for HbA1c in HbAC, 4.1 (3.6-4.6) for HbC1c in HbAC, 4.4 (4.0-4.7) for HbA1c in HbAS, 2.6 (range: 2.3-3.8) for HbC1c in HbCC, 2.0 (1.5-2.4) for HbS1c in HbSC, 0.9 (0.6-1.3) for HbS1c in HbSS, and 1.3 (range: 0.8-2.4) for HbS1c in HbS/HPFH. There was a nonlinear inverse relation between HbX1c and erythrocyte polyamines, indicating that HbX1c percentage decreases with decreasing mean erythrocyte age. We conclude that amounts of HbX1c in subjects with heterozygous hemoglobinopathies should be expressed as a percentage of HbX0 + HbX1c, not total hemoglobin. Interpretation of HbX1c in subjects with a decreased erythrocyte half-life is difficult; measurement of fructosamine seems a suitable alternative.