Type 1 diabetes antibody blood test in Chiswick

What the test measures

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system gradually damages the beta cells in the pancreas that make insulin. This process often begins years before blood sugar rises, and during that time the body can produce autoantibodies that are measurable in the blood.

This test looks for the four main autoantibodies: glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65), islet antigen 2 (IA2), insulin autoantibodies (IAA) and zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8). Clinicians also use these antibodies to help tell type 1 diabetes apart from type 2 diabetes or slower forms of autoimmune diabetes in adults, sometimes called LADA.

The price includes your sample taken at our Chiswick clinic, analysis at the Randox accredited laboratory, a review of your result with an Omnia practitioner, and a GP feedback report on request.

Who it is for

• You have a parent, brother, sister or child with type 1 diabetes.
• You have recently been diagnosed with diabetes and the type is not yet clear.
• You were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes but are slim, younger or not responding to tablets as expected.
• You have another autoimmune condition, such as thyroid disease or coeliac disease.
• Your GP or specialist has asked for diabetes autoantibodies.

Understanding your result

Your report shows whether each antibody is present and at what level, against the laboratory reference range. Having no antibodies makes autoimmune diabetes less likely. Having one antibody carries a modest increase in risk, while two or more antibodies indicate that the autoimmune process has started, and many people in this group go on to develop type 1 diabetes over time.

Antibody results do not tell you exactly when diabetes might develop. A positive result is a prompt for discussion and monitoring with your GP or a diabetes team, not a diagnosis. If you have symptoms such as extreme thirst, passing urine very often, unexplained weight loss or tiredness, contact your GP or NHS 111 the same day rather than waiting for a test, and seek urgent care if you also feel sick, are vomiting or are breathing fast.

Preparing for your test

No fasting is needed for the antibody test. If you already use insulin, tell us when you book, because insulin treatment can cause insulin autoantibodies (IAA) to form and make that result harder to interpret. You can take your other medicines as usual.

To see your current blood sugar levels, our HbA1c and diabetes tests measure longer term glucose control, and the coeliac blood test is worth considering as the two conditions often occur together. For a side by side view, see our page of every blood test and price in Chiswick.

Questions

How much is a type 1 diabetes antibody test in Chiswick?

Type 1 Diabetes Antibodies costs £109 at Omnia Lifestyle in Chiswick. This includes your blood sample, measurement of all four autoantibodies at the Randox accredited laboratory, a practitioner review and a GP feedback report on request.

Does a positive antibody mean I have diabetes?

No. Antibodies show that the immune system is targeting insulin-producing cells. Diabetes is diagnosed by blood sugar or HbA1c measurements and clinical assessment.

Should my children be tested?

Relatives of people with type 1 diabetes have a higher chance of developing it. If you are considering testing a child, please discuss this with us and your GP first.

How is this different from an HbA1c test?

HbA1c shows your average blood sugar over the past two to three months. Autoantibodies show whether an autoimmune process is present, which can be the case before blood sugar changes.