Vitamin B12 Test

The Vitamin B12 Test is a serological test used to measure the levels of vitamin B12 in your blood. Your body needs Vitamin B12 to make blood cells and ensure the proper functioning of the brain and nervous system. Vitamin B12 deficiency results in the reduction of red blood cells, which is known as pernicious anaemia or megaloblastic anaemia.

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin needed by your body to keep your blood and nerve cells healthy. Vitamin B12 also helps make the genetic material in your cells known as DNA.

The Vitamin B12 Test is prescribed as a diagnostic test for macrocytic anaemia and megaloblastic anaemia or pernicious anaemia. For people whose regular reports show signs of these types of anaemias, the Vitamin B12 Test helps confirm the diagnosis.

Pernicious anaemia or megaloblastic anaemia may be caused due to poor absorption of vitamin B12 from your intestines.

Macrocytic anaemia is a condition where your body’s red blood cells are overly large and there is a decrease in the total number of normal red blood cells.

Studies show that vitamin B12 deficiency is an endemic condition in Indians. 47% of Indians suffer from this deficiency.

To manage your daily requirement of vitamin B12 levels, you can include meats, dairy and seafood in your diet. For example, eat more liver, pork, beef, fortified soymilk, fish, chicken, poultry and dairy products like milk, yoghurt and cheese. These foods will help maintain your body’s daily requirement of vitamin B12.

Other Names of Vitamin B12 Test:

• Cobalamin test
• Cyanocobalamin test
• Methylcobalamin test

What does the Vitamin B12 Test Detect/Measure and who is it Prescribed for?

The Vitamin B12 test detects the levels of the water-soluble vitamin B12 in your body. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin needed for the proper functioning of your blood cells and nerve cells. In the absence of vitamin B12, your red blood cells stop functioning normally and you suffer from anaemia. The nerve cells also work abnormally, resulting in nervous system-related symptoms like tingling numbness, confusion and brain fag.

Vitamin B12 and folate are the two vitamins that form a part of the vitamin B complex. Vitamin B12 and folate work in tandem with vitamin C to make new proteins in your body. These are necessary for the formation of normal red blood cells and white blood cells, tissue and cell repair and the formation of DNA.

The Vitamin B12 Test is prescribed for all age groups and genders. It is advised to people who experience the following symptoms -

• Weakness
• Loss of balance
• Tingling and/or numbness of hands and feet
• Loss of brain function
• Tingling of the scalp
• Oral ulcers
• Disturbed vision
• Issues with memory, learning, understanding and judgement
• Muscle weakness
• Depression
• Confusion
• Sore and red tongue

Since vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is mainly present in animal sources, there are a specific set of strictly veg people who are at risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency.

The Vitamin B12 test is generally advised for the following category of people -

• Older adults
• Children
• Strict vegetarians
• People with diabetes
• Vegans
• People who have recently undergone gastric bypass surgery
• Pregnant women
• Breastfeeding mothers

Causes of Vitamin B12 deficiency include:

• Not enough vitamin B12 intake in the diet. This could be either due to not eating enough meat or if you are a vegetarian.
• Lack of the intrinsic factor, a protein that is required by the intestines to absorb vitamin B12.
• Diseases that lead to malabsorption like coeliac disease, and Crohn’s disease.
• Excessive heat production in the body due to hyperthyroidism.
• Pregnancy.

Increased levels of vitamin B12 in the Vitamin B12 Test report are rare as excess vitamin B12 is removed from the body via urine. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin.

However, conditions that can cause a rise in the B12 levels include:

• Liver diseases like cirrhosis or hepatitis.
• Myeloproliferative disorders like polycythaemia vera, and chronic myelogenous leukaemia.
• High intake of Vitamin A.
• High intake of Vitamin C.
• Intake of oestrogens.

Some medicines affect the levels of vitamin B12 in your body like

• Chloramphenicol or chloromycetin is used as an antibiotic.
• Proton pump inhibitors are used for acidity and gastritis.
• H2 receptor blockers are used for acidity and gastritis.
• Metformin is used for diabetes.

If you have been diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency on the VitaminB12 test results, your doctor will advise the following treatment protocol:

• Vitamin B12 injections for severe deficiencies.
• Oral supplements of cyanocobalamin (a synthetic form of vitamin B12) are to be taken daily.
• Following a diet rich in vitamin B12 that includes meat, seafood and dairy products.

The Daily Requirement of Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 Test results shows the levels of Vitamin B12 present in your blood. The normal Vitamin B12 range in the body is 239-931 pg/ml

Normal ranges of Vitamin B12 tests can vary in different laboratories.

The Vitamin B12 Test results will suggest whether you have low levels of the vitamin or high levels.

If your vitamin B12 levels are low, it indicates that you have vitamin B12 deficiency.

The Vitamin B12 Test is done by taking your blood sample. You can get this test done along with your regular tests or as a single blood test.

Vitamin B12 Test Preparation

The Vitamin B12 test requires you to give a blood sample for testing. There is no special preparation needed for this test.

1. Before the Vitamin B12 Test

This test does not require any preparation from your end. Inform your physician if you are on any medicines that may or may not affect your vitamin B12 levels.

Some medicines that affect your Vitamin B12 Test results are

• Colchicine
• Phenytoin
• Para-aminosalicylic acid
• Neomycin

B. During the Vitamin B12 Test

It is a simple blood test that will take about 5-10 minutes. You do not need to prepare for the test in any way. 

C. After the Vitamin B12 Test

There are no restrictions after the Vitamin B12 Test. You can resume your regular activity.

Test Inclusions: What Parameters Are Included in the Vitamin B12 Test?

The Vitamin B12 Test report includes only the levels of vitamin B12 in your body.

How frequently should you take the Vitamin B12 Test?

Depending on your health condition and the prognosis, you may have to repeat the test. Your doctor will ask you to repeat it every 3-6 months based on your symptoms. The treatment and dosage will be changed accordingly.

Megaloblastic Anaemia or Pernicious Anaemia, Macrocytic Anaemia

Depending on the city and the lab, the cost of a Vitamin B12 test can differ. Generally, the price for a Vitamin B12 test ranges from INR 365 to INR 1265. Here's a detailed breakdown of the average expenses for a Vitamin B12 test in several key cities in India: