Blue Horizon Medicals Diabetes & blood sugar

Islet Cell Antibodies

Checks for islet cell antibodies, used to help distinguish autoimmune type 1 diabetes from diabetes caused by other factors.

Doctor reviewed

Sample: Blood
Collection: Venous draw at clinic or nurse home visit
Results in: 7 days
Biomarkers: 1
Doctor reviewed: Yes

Tests for

Islet cell antibodies

Compare Health Test Score Single diabetes marker priced well above the category norm

£101.25

Buy now — £101.25

We may receive a commission on purchases. Prices are updated regularly but may vary.

Test specifications

Provider: Blue Horizon Medicals
Sample type: blood
Collection method: venous draw at clinic or nurse home visit
Turnaround time: 7 days
Biomarkers tested: 1
At-home test: No
Doctor reviewed: Yes
Gender focus: Both

What's tested

1 biomarker as listed by Blue Horizon Medicals.

Autoimmunity

Islet cell antibodies

About this test

Islet cell antibodies are markers of autoimmune activity against the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Testing for them is commonly used to help distinguish autoimmune type 1 diabetes from diabetes that has other causes.

As a single-biomarker test it is fairly narrow: our data places it in the 30th percentile for clinical depth among the diabetes and blood-sugar tests we track. Blue Horizon does not list a directly comparable competitor test for this exact panel, but at £101.25 it costs considerably more than the £60 median we see across similarly sized diabetes tests, roughly 69% higher.

The listing itself is clear: it publishes a full description, the biomarker, sample type, collection options and a stated turnaround of around 7 days, which is why it scores well for clarity and documentation. Collection needs a venous blood draw at a clinic or via a nurse home visit rather than an at-home kit, which keeps the convenience score modest. Results are reviewed by a doctor, and Blue Horizon uses UKAS ISO 15189 partner labs, with a Trustpilot score of 4.2 from 395 reviews.

Who is it for?

This suits someone with diabetes, or a family history of type 1 diabetes, whose GP or specialist wants to check whether autoimmune antibodies are present as part of wider investigations, rather than someone looking for a general diabetes screen. Because it only measures one marker and needs a clinic or nurse visit, it is not the test to reach for if you want a broad picture of blood sugar control from a home finger-prick kit; talk to your GP about which markers are relevant for you first.

How it works

You give a venous blood sample, either at a clinic or through a nurse home visit; Blue Horizon does not offer an at-home finger-prick option for this test. Results are typically available in around 7 days and are reviewed by a doctor before you receive them.

Pros & cons

Pros

Doctor-reviewed results as standard.
Nurse home visit available if you would rather not travel to a clinic.
Clear listing: full description, sample type, collection options and turnaround all stated upfront.

Cons

At £101.25, priced about 69% above the typical cost of similarly narrow diabetes tests we track.
No at-home finger-prick option; you need a venous draw at a clinic or nurse visit.
Tests only one marker, so it will not give a broader picture of blood sugar control.

Our editorial score

Compare Health Test Score Single diabetes marker priced well above the category norm

Editorial confidence: 10.0/10

This is a single-marker blood test that checks for islet cell antibodies, commonly used to help distinguish autoimmune type 1 diabetes from other causes of diabetes. At £101.25 it costs well above the typical price for similarly narrow diabetes tests we track, and it needs a venous blood draw rather than a home finger-prick kit.

Score breakdown

Clarity and documentation 9.0/10

The listing publishes a detailed description, the full biomarker list, a stated turnaround, clear collection options, the sample type; it does not state what the report looks like.
Clinical depth 6.3/10

1 biomarkers, placing it in the 30th percentile of diabetes tests we track.
Collection convenience 8.0/10

A blood sample taken at home by a visiting nurse or phlebotomist; with a venous or clinic option as well; a home nurse visit is offered; results in around 7 days, slower than similar tests.
Results and follow-up 7.0/10

Results are reviewed by a doctor; the provider does not describe the report format.
Trust signals 7.5/10

Trustpilot 4.2 from 395 reviews; accredited lab (UKAS ISO 15189 partner labs); trading 17+ years.
Value for money 3.1/10

£101.25 against a median of £60.00 for the 18 similarly sized diabetes tests we track (+69%).

Calculated 13 September 2026 from the facts we hold about this test and provider, using our published scoring formula. Scores are not hand-edited.

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