-IBIS-1.5.0-
rx
Misc. Lab Diagnostics
serum B12 (microbial assay)
diagnoses
definition
serum B12 (microbial assay)
normal >100pg/ml appears to be the most widely used and considered the most accurate. Pregnancy, large doses of vitamin C, and folate deficiency may result in a falsely reduced B12 assay.
» Serum B12 (RIA) - not as accurate, since it picks up all forms of cobalamin, including those that are inactive.
» 24-hour urine MMA - methylmalonic acid requires B12 for conversion to succinic acid and without B12 it increases in the urine.
(Marz)
footnotes