Cyanocobalamin Vitamin B12:
Why Cyanocobalamin - Vitamin B12 Test?
CLINICAL INFORMATION
Vitamin B12 is also called cyanocobalamin. Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in overall health (eg. Formation of RBCs, WBCs, cell and tissue repair, synthesis of DNA). Intrinsic factor (IE) secreted in gastric mucosa is required for the absorption of vitamin B12. It is important for normal blood (hematopoiesis), cells and nerve / neuronal function. It also involves many metabolic pathways of carbohydrates, fat and proteins. This test is recommended in patients who manifest symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anaemia/macrocytic anaemia) or subjects with a higher risk of this vitamin deficiency (patients with long term medication of chloramphenicol, proton pump inhibitors and H2 receptor blockers (medication for GERD), methformin medication etc). Vitamin B12 deficiency can also co-exist in patients with celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, atrophic gastritis etc. the main causes of deficiency are dietary deficiency, inadequate absorption. The screening test of vitamin B12 also involves the folate concentration in the serum specimen. Apart from vitamin B12, in certain cases tests also may check levels of methylmalonic acid (MMA), homocystine, holotranscobalamin (holo TC) too (since MMA and holo TC may be accurate at reading low vitaminB12 levels – serum methylmalonic acid and homocysteine levels are elevated in vitamin B12 deficiency). Deficiency of vitamin B12 results in diseases associated with anaemia (Megaloblastic anaemia -low RBCs, WBCs count, reticulocyte count, and platelet count), stomach and intestinal disorders (can result in intestinal mal-absorption) and in chronic stages can also cause extreme complications such as irreversible nerve damage. Vegans (strict vegetarians who do not consume egg and milk products), older adults, children, patients with diabetes, patients who had undergone gastric bypass surgery(lack of gastric mucosa can result in reduced Intrinsic Factor secretion) are at high risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency. Symptoms of vitamin B12 include ataxia (problems with balance), diarrhea, constipation, exhaustion, pale skin, inflamed red tongue (glossitis) or bleeding gums, peripheral neuropathy (tingling sensation in hands and feet), arrhythmias, deteriorating brain functions (loss of proprioception, poor coordination, behavioural changes), memory loss, confusion, dementia, weakness, loss of appetite, temporary infertility in women etc. Biotin in certain food supplements may interfere with vitamin B12 test results. Moreover, medicines that can also interfere with vitamin B12 test results are Colchicine, Neomycin, Para-amino salicylic acid, Phenytoin etc. Conditions that can increase the levels of vitamin B12 are liver diseases (cirrhosis or hepatitis), Myeloproliferative disorders (eg. Polycythemia vera and chronic myelogenous leukemia). Other additions tests include CBC, blood smear showing large RBCs (macrocytosis), hypersegmented neutrophils, antibodies against intrinsic factor (auto-immune disease), ECLIA: Electro Chemi-Luminescence Immunoassay.
General Instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen - Blood sample collected from the vein. Test Preparation: None.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presenting complaints/signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RTDIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centres to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
