Serum Anti-Islet Antibody (Anti IA2)

Specimen Required

3-5cc Clotted Blood or Serum

Fasting Required

Purpose of the Test

To aid in the classification of type 1 diabetes

When this test is required

A combination of these autoantibodies may be requested when a person is newly diagnosed with diabetes and the healthcareprofessional wants to distinguish between type 1 diabetes and other forms of diabetes such as type 2 diabetes and MODY. In addition, these tests may be used when a person with type 2 diabetes is having great difficulty in controlling their glucose levels with standard treatments. In such a case, a positive test for an islet autoantibody can indicate that the diagnosis is type 1 diabetes and not type 2 diabetes.

What the Test Detects

Preparation for the Test

None

Sample Requirements

A blood sample taken from a vein in your arm

Additional Notes

Islet autoantibodies may also be seen in people with other autoimmune endocrine disorders such as Hashimoto thyroiditis or autoimmune Addison disease. Such individuals are then at increased risk to develop type 1 diabetes.People who are treated with insulin injections may begin to develop antibodies directed against the exogenous insulin. The IAA test does not distinguish between these types of antibodies and the autoantibodies directed against endogenous insulin. Therefore, this test is not valid for someone who has already been treated with injections of insulin. For example, someone who was thought to have type 2 diabetes and who was treated with insulin injections cannot then have this test done to determine if he or she has type 1 diabetes.

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