B12 test results

[dalec80]

B12 test results back my level is 137 been told by go it's low and to retest in 6 months, is this right? I was under the impression anything under 200 is deficient? I've made an appointment for a 2nd opinion next week

[Nanaedake]

You've got to get the laboratory range as well as the test result. You should also check folate and vitamin D and ferritin. When you've got your B12 results with the lab ranges post them on the Pernicious Anaemia Healthunlocked forum to get feedback.

[dalec80 in reply to Nanaedake]

Thanks I will when I pick them up they said my other results are fine, vit D, folate etc..

[Nanaedake in reply to dalec80]

Don't take 'fine' for an answer, get the results. What the doc thinks is 'fine' might not be fine for a thyroid patient at all. They are not trained in nutrition and vitamins you could be horribly low in NHS range and the doc will say fine. We see it on this forum all the time.

[Mary-intussuception]

Yes. I would too.

I would be asking to be tested for Pernicious Anemia or an urgent referal to a specialist. Maybe Haematology?

What are your symptoms? Have you looked at the list of symptoms for B12 deficiency?

What was your Folate result?

Have you Googled NICE guidelines for low B12 levels and NHS choices?

X🐥

[dalec80 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

I'll have a look. I need to pick my results up. Everything else they said is fine but I will see.

[Gambit62]

there are two distinct ways of measuring B12 levels - pmol/L and ng/L - they have different ranges - pmol/L tends to start around 180-200 for normal range, ng/L tends to start around 140 - so you need to know what units and what ranges were quoted by the lab.

Serum B12 is a problematic test and normal range will miss 25% who are B12 deficient but also catch 5% who aren't - so symptoms are important. It may be that your blood work doesn't show any signs of macrocytosis at the moment (larger rounder red blood cells) and your GP is using this as a defining characteristic but that also isn't present in 25% of people when they present with B12 deficiency. You really need to look at symptoms to get a clear picture (and there are some tests that can help clarify - egg MMA will be raised).

Source of information is the BCSH guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of cobalamin (B12) and folate deficiencies, which your GP can access through the BNF

If you have neurological symptoms then you definitely shouldn't wait 6 months - even now if you have symptoms I'd be pushing for prompt treatment. May be difficult to evaluate symptoms properly given overlap with thyroid.

pernicious-anaemia-society....

Please take a look at the PAS forum - PA is the most common cause of B12 deficiency.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc