In simple words: This is a blood test that checks for antibodies that attack islet cells in your pancreas. These islet cells are responsible for making hormones like insulin and glucagon that control your blood sugar. This test helps doctors distinguish type 1 diabetes from type 2 diabetes and manage endocrine disorders.

This test detects and measures the amount of islet cell antibodies in patients with type 1 diabetes. Islet cells of the pancreas produce the hormones, insulin and glucagon, which control blood sugar levels. In some cases, these islet cells may be destroyed by autoantibodies, known as islet cell antibodies. The lab analyst performs the technical lab steps to mix the specimen, typically patient blood, with specific substances to measure islet cell antibodies. The lab analyst may use a methodology such as indirect fluorescent antibody, or IFA. The reaction with different antigen and antibodies results in formation of a precipitate. The lab analyst analyzes the radioactivity of the precipitate to quantitate the amount of islet cell antibodies in the blood. A value less than or equal to 0.02 is negative.

Example 1: A six-year-old boy with an elevated fasting glucose level undergoes this test to determine if he has type 1 diabetes., A patient with newly diagnosed diabetes has this test performed to distinguish between type 1 and type 2 diabetes., A patient with an endocrine disorder has this test as part of their ongoing management plan.

Documentation should include the patient's medical history, reason for testing, and the results of the test.