Anti-insulin antibody test

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Blood test

The anti-insulin antibody test checks for the presence of antibodies against insulin.

Adult or child:

Blood is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic, and a tourniquet is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and restrict blood flow through the vein. This causes veins below the tourniquet to fill with blood. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. The tourniquet is then removed to restore circulation. After blood has been collected the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.

Infant or young child:

The area is cleansed with antiseptic and punctured with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a pipette (small glass tube), on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. A bandage may be applied to the puncture site if there is any bleeding.

In the laboratory, a radioimmunoassay (a test that tags proteins making them visible for study) is performed on the sample.

No special preparation is necessary.

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.

This test is performed if you have diabetes, and insulin no longer seems to control it, or if you appear to have an allergic response to insulin.

This test measures your immune system's response to insulin. Your health care provider may use the test to confirm insulin resistance, or to investigate the cause of your insulin allergy.

Review Date: 02/27/2006
Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.