ICA Anti Islet Cells Antibody
Sample: Serum 0.5 mL
Schedule: Daily (Immunofluorescence)
Units: Titer
Range: Negative
Remarks: It has been demonstrated that in many patients, the development of Type 1 Diabetes takes many years. It was found that most patients who later got diabetes had certain autoantibodies (Islet Cells Antibodies, ICA) in their blood for years before. These antibodies have been associated with "autoimmune" endocrine disorders including Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus . Antibodies in these patients may be detected years before the onset of the clinical symptoms and are almost exclusively of the insulin dependent diabetes. The presence of ICA is predictive of the subsequent development of this type of diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes (Insulin dependent): The insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas are almost completely demaged and do not produce insulin.
Type 2 Diabetes (Non-insulin dependent): The insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas produce either not enough insulin or the body of the patients becames resistant to the effects of their own insulin.
