What is Anaemia?
Anaemia occures when there is a deficiency of red blood cells and not enough oxygen is circulating the around the body. There are a number of different types of anaemia including sickle cell and iron deficiency anaemia, but the most common type of anaemia is Pernicious Anaemia (PA)
Pernicious anaemia (PA) is an autoimmune disease and is the most common cause of anaemia due to B12 deficiency. More women than men are affected and it tends to run in families.
To be absorbed into the blood vitamin B12 needs to combine with Intrinsic Factor (IF), a glycoprotein essential for the transport of vitamin B12 across the intestinal mucosa. People with PA produce autoantibodies to IF preventing vitamin B12 absorption, either by blocking the binding of B12 to IF, or by binding directly to the IF-B12 complex itself.
What are the symptoms?
- Tiredness
- Difficulty Breathing
- Abdominal Bloating
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- A Reduced Sense of Taste
- A Reduced Sense of Touch
- Why test for Anaemia?
If left undiagnosed and untreated, PA can lead to damaging of the nervous system and has also been associated with cancer of the stomach.
How does the test work?
The test uses ELISA technology to detect IgG class antibodies to IF using microplates coated with purified IF. There are two types of antibodies: Type 1 antibodies interact with the binding site of vitamin B12 and, therefore, interfere with the binding process in the stomach. Type 2 IF antibodies block the binding of both IF and B12-IF complexes to a specific receptor in the ileum.
The CNS anti-intrinsic factor ELISA determines both types of autoantibodies to IF.
Sample requirements and test turnaround.
Both tests require just a pin-prick blood sample. Results are available within 10 working days.