Vitamin B12: Why It Is Done
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Why It Is Done
A vitamin B12 test is used to:
- Check for vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. There are several risk factors for this anemia, such as those who have had stomach or intestinal surgery, small intestine problems, or people with a family history of this anemia.
- Diagnose the cause of certain types of anemia, such as megaloblastic anemia.
- Help find the cause of dementia or other nervous system symptoms, such as tingling or numbness of the arms or legs (peripheral neuropathy).
- See whether vitamin B12 deficiency anemia is present after a person has been diagnosed with atrophic gastritis.
| Last updated: | February 14, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Brian Leber, MDCM, FRCPC - Hematology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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