Autoimmune hearing loss tests - From Ray Mullins

Ray Mullins asks:

Are there useful tests available in Aust for suspected autoimmune
hearing loss?
And does anyone have useful advice for management and assessment of benefit
other than frequent hearing tests?

Ab to Zn Transporter 8 - From Len Harrison

Dear all

Thanks to Len Harrison for  informing us of an assay for measurement of antibodies to "ZnTx8 Ab is measured by IP of 35S-methionine labeled in vitro translated protein, in the Endocrine Lab at the Royal Melbourne (contact Prof. Peter Colman). " Len

Immunology forum question - Zinc transporter 8 antibody - from David Heyworth-Smith

Greetings.  Is anyone offering routine testing of zinc transporter-8 autoantibodies?  We (QML) have received a solitary request.  My brief scanning of the literature suggests measurement may have some additive predictive value to anti-GAD and anti-IA2 in relatives of type 1 diabetics and also in assessment of late onset autoimmune diabetes.  Many thanks for any information and comments.
Kind regards
David

Dr. David Heyworth-Smith
Clinical Immunologist
QML Pathology
ph 07 31214444
david.heyworthsmith@qml.com.au

Ferroxidase activity in heterozygous caeruloplasmin states - Reply from Marv Fritzler to Damun Langguth

Thanks for the offer.  We have set up a good assay on Luminex with the help of several controls from the johns Hopkins group. I do many of my assays for a group of consultants in Quebec who have become very good at making the clinical diagnosis. In our hands at least 25% of high positives have no traceable history of current or past statin use.  What is you experience?

Hope to see you in 2014 when AI travel down under for the RCPA. 

- Marv