Hi, is it possible to still have PA even though my parietal cell and intrinsic factor antibody are negative and my b12 is low?

[Rocky213]

Low b12 and negative parietal cell antibody and intrinsic factor. Can it still be pernicious anaemia

[Nackapan]

Yes it's possible.There is no definitive test fot PA.

If you eat alot of b12 rich food

Not vegan

Unable to absorb b1w from a tablet

All indicators

I stil do not know

Do assumed IFneg. PA I think called

I certainly need b12 injections

Have been on the ssne diet rich in b12 all my life

Not on medications

Have not had surgery

Am of a common age to get it

Am post menopausal a known risk factor.

I've only had the parietal cell antibody test.

That was negative.

Once on injections it's possible fir a false positive result

It appears it csn give a different result if tested enough

Enough antibodies have to be present at the time of testing.

A clinical diagnosis can be made.

Especially if you have gastric problems too and had an endoscopy

[fbirder]

It is possible.

If you have PA then you're about 50% likely to test negative for IF antibodies, but only about 20% likely to test negative for GPC antibodies.

Having PA and testing for both is, therefore about a one in ten chance.

[Bluedragon]

I didn’t think it possible to get false positive results? False negative yes. Do you have a source please?

[fbirder in reply to Bluedragon]

False positive results for what?

You can easily get false positive results for the IFAB test - if your levels of B12 are very high and you're tested with one of the older assays.

I don't think you can get false positive results for the GPCAB test. 10% of normal people test positive - because they have the antibodies. 20% of those with PA test negative - because they don't have the antibodies.

Source for positivity rates: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

[Rocky213 in reply to fbirder]

Thanks

[Curlygal]

I also tested negative on both tests. I feel it's likely I have PA as no other reason for it has been found. I eat plenty of B12 in food. I do have ongoing digestive issues but no definitive diagnosis on that. I was recently found to be anaemic as well with a very low ferritin (3!) so obviously some kind of absorption issue. I'm interested to see how my energy improves with iron supplementation and if I can reduce my B12 (always put exhaustion down to B12 when it could have been the iron). I've been doing SI for 4 years.