Type 1 diabetes mellitus (also known as insulin-dependent diabetes) is a chronic autoimmune disease resulting from pancreatic beta-cell destruction, which leads to absolute insulin deficiency.

Before clinical onset, type 1 diabetes is often characterized by circulating autoantibodies against a variety of pancreatic islet cell antigens, including glutamic acid decarboxylase (mainly the GAD65 kDa isoform), tyrosine phosphatase (IA2) and insulin. These autoantibodies are important preclinical markers, which may already be present for years before the actual diagnosis of diabetes and other metabolic assays still give normal values.

Combining GAD65 and IA2 antigens
• Detects more than 90 % of new onset patients
• Ideal screening assay to identify individuals at high risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus

GAD65 autoantibodies
• Present prior to disease onset
• Present in 70-80 % of new-onset patients
• Prediction, diagnosis and management of patients with type 1 diabetes

IA2 autoantibodies
• Present in 50-70 % of new-onset patients depending on age
• Younger children have an especially high prevalence
• Correlates with a rapid progression to type 1 diabetes