Zinc Transporter 8 Antibody Blood Test

Order this Zinc Transporter 8 (ZnT8) Antibody test to help assess your risk for developing type 1 diabetes or distinguishing the class of diabetes. This ZnT8 antibody test may also evaluate the potential need for insulin treatment in patients with adult-onset diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that develops either when your body cannot make or use insulin appropriately. As a result, your body generates too much blood glucose (sugar) to build up in the bloodstream.

The two primary types of diabetes are:

•  Type 1: It happens when your body cannot produce insulin. It is commonly referred to as juvenile diabetes because it is primarily found in children and teenagers. However, type 1 diabetes also affects adults.
• Type 2: It happens when your body cannot make enough insulin or doesn’t use it as it should. Although type 2 diabetes is primarily found in adults, many children and teenagers are diagnosed with it.

Individuals should note that any time you show signs of diabetes, your healthcare provider cannot distinguish if you have type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. Therefore, your health care provider may order tests for islet autoantibodies (ZnT8 antibodies).

The occurrence of ZnT8 antibodies in people with diabetes suggests that they have autoimmune diabetes (type 1 diabetes). Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease since the lack of insulin stems from an immune response that destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Approximately 60% of individuals with new-onset type 1 diabetes have ZnT8 antibodies. These antibodies are also helpful in diagnosing latent autoimmune diabetes in adulthood (LADA). Asymptomatic individuals and individuals with a family history that test positive for ZnT8 antibodies have an increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes. In addition, the presence of ZnT8 antibodies in the blood of patients who have received a pancreas transplant may indicate potential beta-cell failure.

Signs or symptoms of type 1 diabetes may include:

• Dry mouth
• Frequent urination
• Constant hunger
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Slow-healing sores or wounds
• Dry or itchy skin
• Numbness or tingling in your feet
• Blurry vision