Active B12 test in USA?

[Greeneyecolor]

Has anyone ever been able to find and take an active/functional B12 test anywhere in the USA? It is so frustrating that this test is unavailable in America.

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

Active B12 test is also called Holotranscobalamin or HoloTC.

Just wondered if you's searched using those terms.

[Greeneyecolor in reply to Sleepybunny]

I have, thanks. I can't imagine why it's just not available in the States.

[FabiMckay in reply to Greeneyecolor]

I want to test too but cannot find a place to test. I am wondering if there is a test that we can order from abroad..maybe dry blood?

[Greeneyecolor in reply to Sleepybunny]

I have, thanks. Unfortunately...not available.

[ProtectAnimals]

I haven’t seen one either. Been looking as well.

[jimmel196]

I live in the US and my doctor said it's not available. I checked with Labcorp and 2 other labs and none offer it.

[Jeep13]

ask for an intrinsic antibody test and a parietal antibody test. You need both. If parietal antibody test is positive you have PA.

[EllaNore]

I had a very nice oncologist who really listen to me about my pernicious anemia and the way we deal with B12 deficiency in the United States. I explained to her that there is an active B12 test and a serum B12 test and that the only test we do in the United States is a serum B12 test. I had to explain to her what an active B12 test was. She did everything she could to find an active B12 test lab. I sat right there with her when she did research, through her medical avenues, to try to find a lab that did active B12. She even made phone calls and was told a lab does not exist in the united states that can do an active b12 test. In fact, I also just spoke to my general practitioner about it last week. I told him if I'm injecting B12 every day why am I not getting better and why do I still have anemia and blood issues? I said if I could just get an active B12 test to know what my body is actually absorbing, and he said I know, we just don't have that kind of test. You would think that knowing that an active B12 test exists in the world, one would think that they would want to know the answer to how much B12 a body is actually using when injected . It just doesn't make any sense to me . The technology exists why aren't they using it ?

However, even though the UK knows how much B12 one is actually using, they still haven't changed the way they treat someone with b12d or pernicious anemia. A bit confusing too. Except to reduce injections and treatment. The opposite of what we need.

[Greeneyecolor in reply to EllaNore]

You've expressed my thoughts exactly. Thanks!

[scnuke]

As the others have said, it is not available anywhere I have found in the USA. You can't even get a Schillings Test anymore. As with most things with the healthcare system here, I am sure it comes down to money.

[FlipperTD in reply to scnuke]

Schilling tests weren't withdrawn down to cost. There were issues regarding safety and the supply of what was actually used in the test. This more or less coincided with 'Mad Cow Disease', and given that the Part Two Schilling test included Intrinsic Factor extracted from 'slaughterhouse materials' then there may have been an issue there. There were discussions regarding availability and use of radioisotopically labelled B12 in testing too, but I suspect that wasn't the whole problem. As tests go, it was an expensive procedure both in terms of the materials, equipment and time required. But it did work!

[EllaNore]

Technoid posted this in another thread about high b12 levels. It explains some interesting things about serum and active b12academic.oup.com/qjmed/arti...

[Fluffyfloo]

I also was told by a neurologist that this test is not available here.

[FlipperTD]

Scientist, not medic.

We tend to assume that just because a test exists, it'll be available on the USA. Not always the case. Before a test is accepted for use it has to be approved by the FDA. This organisation keeps a very tight rein on the manufacturers. For example, at ones stage a USA manufacturer making folate assay kits for diagnostic purposes managed to fall foul of the FDA, and were not allowed to issue materials for use in the USA. They were however able to make and release stuff for use elsewhere in the World. This took some time to resolve before they were allowed to issue stuff for use in the USA once more.

Other companies were able to continue manufacture of Folate assay kits for use on different equipment.

I won't name names!

It could be that the HoloTC test hasn't worked its way through the FDA regulations, or the company that makes the HoloTC kit hasn't even sought approval of the method.

A resourceful individual could of course find an international route to send samples elsewhere on the planet, but that would require sample preparation [serum separation, frozen storage and air freight under dry ice or similar] to reach a laboratory that could handle the test. With all the aggravation of HM Customs etc. The cost would be astronomical. I know all this because I have shipped frozen samples of blood serum for testing in the USA. [This was not for diagnostic purposes.]

Just a thought: Is the test available in Canada?

[EllaNore in reply to FlipperTD]

Thank you FlipperTD. Great info.

[Greeneyecolor in reply to FlipperTD]

Thanks! So would you suggest that I continue to assume my absorption is sufficient if MMA and homocysteine levels are ok?

[FlipperTD in reply to Greeneyecolor]

That sounds good to me. You've got functional tests there, so there must be something happening.

For me, I'd be happy to keep an eye on the FBC values, as they can be quite sensitive too. Likewise, the serum B12 is total B12, but it's been relied upon for a long time.

With all of these things, keeping track of them using a spreadsheet is a sensitive way of looking at them.

[Greeneyecolor in reply to FlipperTD]

Thanks!

[Greeneyecolor in reply to FlipperTD]

In brief, I had gastritis back in 2018 with low b12 and was told I had PA. I loaded and continued injections for several months afterward. Everything stabilized. I began sublinguals and have been taking ever since. Since there isn't an active test available here, I have just monitored MMA, folate, homocysteine, and CBC...all levels good. I also have been injecting once per month for the past year. My only physical problem is a very messed up spine (neck, back, neuropathy) that has been the case for a long time (67 yrs old) that I don't believe is SACD. Would you say there is anything else I can do?

[Jeep13]

get the intrinsic factor antibody test and the parietal cell antibody test. IFAB test can be negative or unequivocal. The PCAB test if positive is considered to have Pernicious Anemia.

[Greeneyecolor in reply to Jeep13]

Thanks!

[LauraS25]

glutenfreesociety.org/shop/...

I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for but I think so - So this test is not covered by Ins. But will test intercellular nutrients not serum levels - Not just B12 but includes B12 - does go on sale regularly if you sign up for text or email 20% off - If you are anywhere but New York you can use an approved lab in your area and the price includes everything you need. You just pay for a blood draw - I paid $45. Live in Illinois.

[Greeneyecolor in reply to LauraS25]

Thank you for the info! Of course I'm in NY, lol

[helvella in reply to Greeneyecolor]

It is not an Active B12 test. (Which is Holotranscobalamin in serum.)

However, it is VERY interesting.

[Greeneyecolor in reply to helvella]

Why is it interesting?

[helvella in reply to Greeneyecolor]

Because I have never seen anyone offering intracellular nutrient testing.

And we are well aware that serum levels represent what is potentially available to cells, not what they actually take up. And for many substances, there are complex mechanisms for transporting from outside a cell to the interior. These mechanisms might, or might not, work effectively. If they are operating poorly, then high serum levels might not address deficiencies within cells.

[Technoid in reply to helvella]

I found an interesting review of these tests conducted for the purpose of validating health insurance coverage of these tests. There are some interesting technical details of the lab processes involved but what is also made quite clear is the lack of any clear evidence supporting the usefulness or necessity of these tests:

accrue-health.com/web/publi...

To take one obvious example that springs to mind, you cannot measure Calcium from a blood draw and draw conclusions as to whether the persons normal diet has adequate Calcium since Calcium is drawn from bones to maintain critical electrolyte balance. This is just one among many problems.

Assessment of nutritional adequacy is complex and there are many caveats and considerations involved. I could go into several other nutrients but you get the idea I think.

The site offering the test is from the chiropractic doctor, Peter Osborne.

[LauraS25]

Oh gosh sorry, New York has some rule and they can't get this lab work. Yes, I did do more research after replying and realized this is not an Active B12 but it does show, I believe what your body has been able to use/absorb. Serum can't show that.