Insulin Antibodies

Insulin Antibody testing is performed by a referral laboratory. This assay is only available to members of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Insulin antibodies along with GAD65, Islet cell 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. These antibodies can be a cause of insulin resistance, but many diabetics treated with insulin often develop antibodies to the insulin (porcine, bovine or human recombinant) without obvious adverse effect on control.

The assay is not able to distinguish between disease-predictive auto-antibodies and antibodies to exogenous insulin. Therefore patient history, symptoms and current prescriptions should be considered when interpreting results.

This assay is performed at a referral laboratory (external users requiring serum Insulin antibody levels are advised to contact the referral laboratory directly):

Department of Immunology
PO Box 894
Sheffield S5 7YT

Specimen requirements

Serum 1ml; plasma is NOT acceptable

Cost

Price on application

Laboratory turnaround time

20 days

Laboratory method

Fluorescence Enzyme Immunoassay (FEIA)

Reference range/units

< 5 mg/L Negative
5-10 mg/L Equivocal
> 10 mg/L Positive

Associated tests

N/A

Shipping and storage

Internal hospital transport/courier.
Ensure delivery Monday to Friday 07:00 - 17:30.

Further information and contact details

For further information, email immunology.office@nhs.net