Intrinsic factor blood test

[Verve001]

Hi,

I'm getting my intrinsic factor blood test on Friday can anyone advise if I just take tablets as usual before I go ? ( I take them the night before ) Tia 😊

[silverfox7]

May be a question on the Pernicious Anaemia Group but I don't know the link. Sure if you search for HealthUnlocked PA you will find it.

[Gambit62]

the test can give false positives if you have taken B12 beforehand - and possible that biotin may affect the results if you are supplementing that.

How long you need to have stopped supplementing before the test depends on exactly what test method the lab is using - more modern tests it can be as little as 24 hours - older tests can require stopping for 10-14 days.

However, the test isn't a very sensitive test - and will give false negatives 40-60% of the time depending, again on the exact test method - so if it comes back negative that doesn't rule out PA.

If you have supplemented within the period for false positives the result will be totally inconclusive. If you haven't then a positive would be extremely good evidence that you have PA.

[Verve001 in reply to Gambit62]

Hi gambit62 ,

Thank you for your reply I'm not supplementing b12 just vit d at the moment so I should be ok then 😊...