INTRINSIC FACTOR ANTIBODIES

[Gillybean1]

Hi all, if you have tested negative to these several times does that mean they dont need testing again , or could they change?

Any advice greatly appreciated please.

G

[Nackapan]

Like any antibody test it seems a bit hit and miss . So yes it can change. You have to have antibodies at the time if the test. A false positive serms to only happen however if you have alot of b12 in your blood whilst on regular b12injections.

For that reason I'm not having one. I'm not willing to go a few months without an injection to believe the result.

I wish it had been done before loading doses started.

Even if it is positive some gps insist on doing it again ??

It does pick up about 50% of thoses with PA accurately at the start .

Martin Hooper had 3 tests I think before a positive one.

I might change my mind if my treatment is stopped .

It's like with testing for covid . It's an indication.

To further test at the labs

I've heard two tests done one after the other giving different results??

Perhais thises with a scientific or lab experience coukd explain.

[Gillybean1 in reply to Nackapan]

Hi Nackapan,

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Nothings straight forward is it !! But thank you for explaining it so clearly. Im on B's + B12 sublingual, and just stopping those for a week to do relative testing is a nightmare.

I too wish i had better informed myself before the Dr's started tests that will now be ambiguous.

Im not going to bother with the expensive IF test again.

Every best wish to you, G.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

If you have a positive then that is good evidence for PA as the cause of an absorption problem. No need for retesting (unless the test was too close to an injection - the one circumstance that would give a false positive - if it was 2 weeks after that is definitely going to have been long enough for it not to be a false positive - for some tests 24 hours is sufficient - but 2 weeks just gives you the reassurance whatever the exact kit used).If you have a string of negatives then it's just a string of inconclusive results.

[Gillybean1 in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you Gambit for taking the time to reply.

Im not going to bother,i will put limited funds to MMA and Homocysteine test instead,

Every best wish, G