Test Name

Vitamin B12

Test Code

518

Unit

pg/mL

Station

Chemistry

Synonym Name/Abbreviation

B12, True Cobalamin

CPT Code

82607

Performing Facility

American Medical Labs, Herzliya
Pituah

Analyzer

Roche cobas 6000

Test Method

Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay
(ECLIA)

AML Preferred Tube

5 mL SST gel

Storage Instructions

Refrigerated

Stability:

2 hours 25^oC
48 hours 2-8^oC
56 days -20^oC

Min. Volume

1 mL

Comments

Test before transfusions or B12
therapy.

Turn-Around-Time

One day.

Intended Use

Detect B12 deficiency as in pernicious anemia; diagnose folic
acid deficiency; evaluate hypersegmentation of granulocyte nuclei; follow
up MCV >100; diagnose macrocytic anemia; diagnose megaloblastic anemia;
evaluate alcoholism, prenatal care; evaluate malabsorption, neurological
disorders, or the elevation of B12 as seen in liver Cell damage or myeloid
leukemia.

Limitations

Drugs capable of interference with absorption of B12 and/or
folic acid include chemotherapeutic agents (methotrexate), antimalarial
(pyrimethamine), diuretics (triamterene), protozoacides (pentamidine,
isethionate), antibacterials (trimethoprim), anticonvulsants (phenytoin),
sedatives (barbiturates), oral contraceptives, antituberculosis agents
(cycloserine, para-aminosalicylic acid), antigout (colchicine), oral
hypoglycemic, biguanide group (metformin, phenformin). Establishing
functional cobalamin (B12) sufficiency in any individual patient may
require consideration of intra-individual variation, functional status of
the gastric mucosa (in particular in elderly individuals) and
transcobalamin II binding; Measuring range: 30 to 2000. Values below the
detection limit are reported as “less than 30”. Values above the measuring
range are reported as “greater than
2000”.

50.0-2000 pg/ml

Patient Preparation

Fasting specimen preferred; must draw before Schilling test,
transfusions or B12 therapy is started.

Reasons for Rejection

Improper labelling.

Adult Reference Ranges

193 to 982 pg/mL