The Zinc Transporter 8 (ZnT8) Antibody test contains 1 test with 1 biomarker.
Zinc Transporter 8 (ZnT8) Antibody
Clinical Significance
Zinc Transporter 8 (ZnT8) Antibody - Patient population is primarily children and adolescents to confirm a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes.
Reference Range(s)
<15 U/mL
Quest Information: education.questdiagnostics.com/faq/FAQ168
Question 1. What is the primary clinical use of the ZnT8 antibody test?
This test is mainly used to assist in the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus. For this purpose, it can be used alone or in combination with other antibody tests such as the glutamic acid decarboxylase-65 (GAD-65), insulinoma antigen-2 (IA-2), and insulin antibody tests.
Question 2. Which individuals may be suitable for ZnT8 antibody testing?
ZnT8 antibody testing can be considered for:
Individuals with diabetes of uncertain etiology
Young person with atypical diabetes
Person with ketosis-prone diabetes that is not clearly type 1
Person suspected of having maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY)
Woman with gestational diabetes (help clarify risk of future diabetes)
Obese individuals with acute-onset diabetes with ketoacidosis
Lean individuals with nonketotic diabetes
Individuals at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes (eg, those with a first-degree relative with type 1 diabetes) in context of a clinical research study1
Question 3. How frequently are ZnT8 antibodies detected in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus?
Sixty-five percent to 80% of children with recently diagnosed type 1 diabetes2,3 and 20% to 40% of adults with type 1 diabetes3,4 have antibodies to ZnT8.
Question 4. To what degree does the ZnT8 antibody test complement other more commonly used autoantibody tests?
The ZnT8 antibody can add 3% to 4% to the antibody sensitivity for type 1 diabetes. This is because ZnT8 antibody is positive in 3% to 4% of patients who are negative for GAD-65, IA-2, and insulin antibodies.2,5,6Use of these 4 antibodies results in 93% to 98% sensitivity.2,5,6
Question 5. Are there other clinical uses of the ZnT8 antibody test?
ZnT8 antibody testing may help to assess the risk of type 1 diabetes. Achenbach et al found that almost half of children with ZnT8 antibody developed type 1 diabetes within 5 years.7 Moreover, since risk of type 1 diabetes increases with the number of antibodies, a positive ZnT8 antibody test can reclassify individuals into a higher risk category.
Question 6. How early can ZnT8 antibodies be detected in patients?
ZnT8 antibodies can be detected as early as 9 months of age but are more common after 2 years.2,7 Antibody titers decrease over the course of the disease, and patients who are initially ZnT8 antibody-positive may later become antibody- negative.3,5,8
