Islet Cell Antibodies

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Assay

Islet cell antibodies

Key Words

Pancreatic islet cell antibodies, ICA

 Specimen Collection

Serum (brown)

Turnaround time

21 days

Test indications

The presence of islet cell antibodies can aid in the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus (IDDM).  Antibodies are present in up to 70% of new onset diabetes but there presence is transient and disappears soon after diagnosis (generally within 6 months) once the islet cells have been destroyed.  Various antibody targets (glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 antibodies (GAD65) and protein tyrosine phosphatase-like protein (IA2) antibodies) will result in the same staining pattern. This test can also be useful in testing first degree relatives of patients with IDDM as the presence of high titre islet cell antibodies (ICA) confers a risk for development of IDDM. This is most useful if GAD65 and IA2 antibodies are measured (the latter is not available at present). Islet cell antibodies along with GAD65, insulin antibodies and IA2 antibodies may be of use when investigating latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood (LADA). Approximately 10% of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have LADA which requires insulin therapy. LADA may be distinguished from type 2 diabetes by the presence of the autoantibodies

Methodology

Indirect immunofluorescence

Interferences

No known methodological interferences

Reference Range

N/A

Analytical error

N/A

Reference change value

N/A