newly diagnosed - possibly?

[Fruitcake61]

After years of ill health and constant feelings of helplessness and having to justify, it seems that I ‘may’ be b12 deficient at a reading of 61 pmol/L although my regular GP says I’m not as the NHS range is anything over 50 pmol/L. I saw a private GP in desperation who gave me details of the recommendation thresholds on PAS site and is it correct that the threshold is 148pmol/L? Therefore mine at 61 is deficient. Am a little confused and hopeful that I am so at least can receive treatment without any doubts.

Can you help me with this please?

[Nackapan]

Get a copy of your NHS test results. Should have 'in range' in brackets.

My NHS b12 was s serum test.

Result 106pg/ml ( 200-900)

A different measurement

An active b12 test in range will be 38-188pmol/l

Below 70pmol/l considered low.

So find out if active or serum test used .

Get a copy of results.

Also symptoms are the most important as we all operate at different levels.

Some are 'in range ' but ill so need further tests like MMA ,Intrinsic factor test.

[Fruitcake61 in reply to Nackapan]

My test I understand was Serum and do have a copy of the results so … showed 61 pmol/L with the range as being 51-128 pmol/L and deficient <25.

Does this info help? I would be so grateful if you can let me know as I am so confused if definitely deficient and am already taking treatment.

[tattybogle in reply to Fruitcake61]

that looks like an "Active B12 "range to me fruitcake , not "Serum B12"

Serum B12 ranges are in the ball park of 200 -700 ish

[Fruitcake61 in reply to tattybogle]

So in your earlier msg you said that for Active tests , below 70 was seen as being low, so at 61 pmol/L this is low and needs treatment? The PAS website I can see states that normal ranges are between 148/400 pmol for Active tests . Would appreciate your view on this. Thanking you in advance.

[wedgewood in reply to Fruitcake61]

My active B12 test ranges were 37.5 pmol/L— 187.5 pmol L ( from Medichecks)

Blood serum ranges do vary slightly from laboratory to laboratory 160 pmol/L — 950 pmol/L And erring on either side depending on laboratory. ( Blood serum ranges contain inactive B12 )

The ranges you quote don’t match any B12 ranges that I have ever seen . So sorry that I can’t help you . Complete mystery to me . You should be treated according to your symptoms anyhow . .

Best wishes .

[Fruitcake61 in reply to wedgewood]

Thank you Wedgewoud and to be honest that is what my doctor says about my symptoms 👍

[wedgewood in reply to Fruitcake61]

Thank goodness that you have such a good doctor ! He is definitely a keeper ! Most doctors are not that intelligent when it concerns B12d / Pernicious Anaemia .

[tattybogle in reply to Fruitcake61]

Test results can only be interpreted against the range given with the result .

You can't use a range from a different assay (test platform) ... if you'd used a different assay your result wouldn't be 61 , it would be something different ....

your '61' only relates to the range given , not to any other range from another assay

61 [51-128] ......so on this assay , anything over 50 is in range. 61 shows your active b12 is lowish but within range on this assay .

[Fruitcake61 in reply to tattybogle]

Ah I understand now, thank you so much for your help on this.

[Nackapan in reply to Fruitcake61]

All you can do is look again at your blood test results and reference range given by the lab used.

It is unusual for a G.p to order an active B12 test in the U.k .

Go by your symptoms.

Was folate ,ferritin ,iron, vit D in range .

Often csn be borderline or low az well with an absorbtion problem.

[Nackapan in reply to Nackapan]

Realise now the same has been said in a different way by tatty bogle .For any further tests use thd sane lab for comparisons.

Otherwise more confusion .

[Fruitcake61 in reply to Nackapan]

Not sure but I can send photo of results without any personal info of course? Would that be appropriate?

[Fruitcake61]

yes, agree. I’m seeing my GP later and as these were done November wondering if I should ask for updated blood. However they would surely be compromised now as taking the B12 injections? I will also find out for sure if these are Active or Serum results so is it ok to keep you posted?

[Nackapan in reply to Fruitcake61]

Yes kerp posting

[WiscGuy]

The discussion of blood test results, while helpful to a degree, is in the end not completely relevant because such test results are unreliable.

Look at this article:

scholar.google.com/scholar?...

Look especially at the section, "Biochemical Diagnosis of B12 Deficiency". This is the section of the article especially pertinent to the discussion in this thread.

[bookish in reply to WiscGuy]

Very helpful, thanks for posting.

[Nackapan]

Yes true .Only thing is G.ps will not prescribe without doing blood tests