Islet Cell Antibody Screen with Reflex to Titer

Test Code
36741


CPT Codes
86341

Includes
If Islet Cell Antibody Screen is positive, then Islet Cell Antibody Titer will be performed at an additional charge (CPT code(s): 86341).


Preferred Specimen
2 mL serum


Patient Preparation
Fasting specimen is preferred

Minimum Volume
0.5 mL


Transport Temperature
Refrigerated (cold packs)


Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: 14 days
Frozen: 6 months


Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Gross hemolysis • Grossly lipemic • Grossly icteric


Methodology
Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)

FDA Status
This test was developed and its analytical performance characteristics have been determined by Quest Diagnostics. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This assay has been validated pursuant to the CLIA regulations and is used for clinical purposes.

Setup Schedule
Set up: Mon-Thurs; Report available: 5-9 days


Clinical Significance
Key clinical use and differentiators
Measurement of Islet cell antigen 2 antibodies(IA-2) is used to: 1. Screen for presymptomatic T1D in individuals with a family history of type 1 diabetes (T1D) or those known to have a high-risk HLA genotype, 2. Distinguish between T1D, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), and atypical forms of diabetes such as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). [1] Positivity to IA-2 represents a key marker of T1D. [1]

Intended Clinical Use
This test is crucial for differentiating between T1D and T2D. It is important to note that classifying diabetes type can be challenging at the time of presentation, and misdiagnosis can occur in approximately 40% of adults with new T1D. [1]

Identifying individuals affected by stage 1 T1D is important for applying eligibility criteria to drugs, such as Teplizumab, which have demonstrated the ability to delay the transition of stage 1 to stage 3 T1D in clinical trials. [2,3]

IA-2 has some distinctive features. Its presence is associated with more-advanced islet autoimmunity and faster progression to stage 3 T1D. [4]

Limitations
T1D is classified into three stages, with stages 1 and 2 considered presymptomatic. Since the presence of stage 1 and 2 T1D requires at least two islet autoantibodies, relying solely on IA-2 as a screening test limits the ability to make an accurate diagnosis. Professional organizations, including the American Diabetes Association (ADA), recommend using tests for all four islet cell autoantibodies: IAA, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65), Zinc Transporter 8 (ZnT8), and islet cell antigen 2 antibody (IA-2). [1]

References
1. American Diabetes Association Professional Practice C. 2. Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2025. Diabetes Care. 2025;48:S27-S49. doi: 10.2337/dc25-S002
2. Herold KC, Gitelman SE, Gottlieb PA, Knecht LA, Raymond R, Ramos EL. Teplizumab: A Disease-Modifying Therapy for Type 1 Diabetes That Preserves beta-Cell Function. Diabetes Care. 2023;46:1848-1856. doi: 10.2337/dc23-0675
3. Ramos EL, Dayan CM, Chatenoud L, Sumnik Z, Simmons KM, Szypowska A, Gitelman SE, Knecht LA, Niemoeller E, Tian W, et al. Teplizumab and beta-Cell Function in Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2023;389:2151-2161. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2308743
4. Decochez K, De Leeuw IH, Keymeulen B, Mathieu C, Rottiers R, Weets I, Vandemeulebroucke E, Truyen I, Kaufman L, Schuit FC, et al. IA-2 autoantibodies predict impending type 1 diabetes in siblings of patients. Diabetologia. 2002;45: 1658-1666. doi: 10.1007/s00125-002-0949-8


Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute-San Juan Capistrano, CA
33608 Ortega Highway
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-2042



Last Updated: May 19, 2016


The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.