Category
SPECIAL CHEMISTRY.
Sub Category
ANEMIA & NUTRITION.
Synonyms/Aliases
COBALAMIN.
Abbreviations
VIT B12.
Type
INDIVIDUAL TEST.
3 HOURS
RESULTS READY IN 3 HOURS.
Method
IMMUNOASSAY
Temp
REFRIFERATED.
Setup
DAILY.
Components Parameters
N/A
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY. ORDER TEST BEFORE ADMINISTERING VITAMIN B12.
Patient preparation
N/A
Sample type
SERUM.
Container/ preservative
SERUM SEPARATOR TUBE (SST/ GEL) OR PLAIN (RED TOP) VACUTAINER.
Sample volume
AT LEAST 2ML.
Rejection criteria
LABELING ISSUE (UNLABELED/ MISLABELED); MISSING REQUEST FORM; MISMATCH BETWEEN REQUEST FORM & SAMPLE DETAILS; MISSING AGE/ GENDER; WRONG SAMPLE TYPE; INSUFFICIENT SAMPLE. SAMPLES COLLECTED IN OTHER TUBES.
Other Instructions
CENTRIFUGE SST (SERUM GEL TUBES) WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. CENTRIFUGE RED TOP VACUTAINERS AND ALIQUOT SERUM WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. THE SEPARATION VIAL MUST BE LABELED WITH AT LEAST 2 PATIENT IDENTIFIERS AND THE SAMPLE TYPE.
Reference intervals
AGE & GENDER APPROPRIATE VALUES ARE PROVIDED ON THE REPORT.
Clinical Utility
IN MEGALOBLASTIC ANEMIA, PARTIAL/ TOTAL GASTRECTOMY, PERNICIOUS ANEMIA, PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHIES, CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM, DEMENTIA.
Test Limitations/ Confounders
IMMUNOASSAY INTERFERENCE CAN GIVE RISE TO SPURIOUS RESULTS. SUCH INTERFERENCE CAN ARISE FROM PRESENCE OF HETEROPHILE ANTIBODIES, ANTI-ANIMAL ANTIBODIES, AUTOANTIBODIES, PARAPROTEINS, BIOTIN ETC. RESULTS SHOULD ALWAYS BE CORRELATED WITH CLINICAL FINDINGS.