Parietal cell test negative so intrinsic factor not tested??

[Vickymoonpixie]

Hello lovely people, I think I buried this question in my last (apologies way too long!!) post (thanks for the helpful replies to the post though!!).

Does anybody know whether if the parietal cell test comes back negative that means it is unnecessary to test for IF?? Apparently the lab refused to test IF...??

Many thanks x

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi Vickymoonpixie I think you can have Intrinsic Factor Antibodies without having Gastric Parietal Cell antibodies.

The IFA test is unreliable in that it gives false negatives in people with PA half the time. So a negative result doesn't mean that you don't have PA. However, a positive result is a sure-fire, 95% certain indicator of PA.

Martyn Hooper writes:

"Sadly some people with "traditional P,A." either do not produce Intrinsic Factor or if they do, they also produce an antibody which destroys it and it is then called "Autoimmune Pernicious Anaemia". In addition it can happen that we produce "Parietal cell Antibodies" and "Intrinsic Factor Antibodies" which totally wipes out any chance of absorbing the B12"

I am not a medically trained person but I've had Pernicious Anaemia (a form of B12 deficiency) for more than 46 years.

I wish you well.

[Alesia]

Good question! I'd like to know the answer to that one too

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

I have read that some people with PA test negative on parietal cell antibody test.

labtestsonline.org/tests/pa...

See section on what test result means.