ZnT8 (ZINC TRANSPORTER 8) ANTIBODY

ZINC TRANSPORTER 8 (ZNT8) IS AN ISLET BETA-CELL SECRETORY GRANULE MEMBRANE PROTEIN RECENTLY IDENTIFIED AS AN AUTOANTIBODY ANTIGEN IN TYPE 1 DIABETES. ZNT8 AUTOANTIBODIES ARE PRESENT IN AROUND 65 TO 80% OF CHILDREN WITH RECENTLY DIAGNOSED TYPE 1 DIABETES AND 20% TO 40% OF ADULTS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES. ZNT8 ANTIBODY COMPLEMENTS GAD-65, IA-2, AND INSULIN ANTIBODIES AS IT IS POSITIVE IN 3% TO 4% OF PATIENTS WHO ARE NEGATIVE FOR GAD-65, IA-2, AND INSULIN ANTIBODIES. USE OF THESE 4 ANTIBODIES RESULTS IN 93% TO 98% SENSITIVITY. ZNT8 ANTIBODY TESTING CAN BE CONSIDERED FOR CLINICAL DISTINCTION OF TYPE 1 FROM TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS, IDENTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUALS AT RISK OF TYPE 1 DIABETES (INCLUDING HIGH-RISK RELATIVES OF PATIENTS WITH DIABETES, AND THOSE WITH GESTATIONAL DIABETES) & PREDICTION OF FUTURE NEED FOR INSULIN TREATMENT IN ADULT-ONSET DIABETIC PATIENTS.