AXA Diagnostics is expanding its range of tests for the determination of autoantibodies to pancreatic beta-cell by offering the new ZnT8 Autoantibody ELISA kit that complements the existing GAD₆₅, IA-2 and Anti-Insulin ELISA kits.

ZnT8 is a protein expressed predominantly in insulin secreting cells and is associated with the insulin release mechanism.

The ZnT8 Autoantibody ELISA kit is capable of detecting, and quantifying, autoantibodies specific to R325 and to W325 and to residue 325 non-specific variants.

The serological determination of ZnT8 autoantibodies is a valuable aid in the early diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and the combined determination with other known anti-insula autoantibodies increases the diagnostic sensitivity in children.

ZnT8 autoantibodies precede the onset of type 1 diabetes clinical symptoms and represent a predictive marker for the rapid progression of the disease.