Question:
From Indiana, USA:
I have read about antibodies testing that is available to first- and second-degree relatives of diabetics for what I believe to be no charge. If a person wishes to have an antibodies test done, and does not fit into the "no-charge" category, how would he go about doing so? (I do not know whether the tests are routinely available at doctors' offices.)
Answer:
Nearly all the antibody testing in the U.S is carried out under
the aegis of a National Institutes of Health trial called the
DPT-1
(Diabetes Prevention Trial) although there is one commercial lab too. The
first step is to call 1-800-425-8361 to find out where the nearest lab is;
for someone living in Indiana it would probably be the Joslin Clinic,
Telephone
1-800-242-5836. The doctor would then have to call to get details of how
the blood sample should be shipped and what other information would be
required. Since you yourself already have Type 1 Diabetes you would not be
eligible for the program; but any siblings certainly would be and if they
were tested they would want to test you too.
DO'B
Original posting 25 Aug 97
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