Vitamin B12

This is a single-marker test measuring Vitamin B12. It can be ordered as part of a custom panel.

Ordering The Vitamin B12 Test From Access Medical Laboratories

This test measures the levels of Vitamin B12 in the blood. Low levels or deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause a range of health issues, including anemia and nervous system disorders. There are several reasons why Vitamin B12 levels may be low, including:

• Inadequate dietary consumption
• The use of some medications
• Advanced age
• Diagnosis of a medical condition that limits the body's absorption of vitamin B12 from food.

Humans need steady levels of Vitamin B12 to produce enough red blood cells and keep the nervous system working. For people who eat a balanced diet, low B12 levels are rare.

Which Patients is the Vitamin B12 Test From Access Medical Laboratories Best Used For?

A physician may order a Vitamin B12 blood test to determine the cause of a patient's symptoms. It may also be ordered after an abnormal result on a different blood test.

Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

If you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, you could become anemic. A mild deficiency in B12 may cause no symptoms. But if untreated, it may lead to symptoms such as:

• Weakness, tiredness, or lightheadedness
• Heart palpitations and shortness of breath
• Pale skin
• A smooth tongue
• Constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or gas
• Nerve problems like numbness or tingling, muscle weakness, and problems walking
• Vision loss
• Mental problems like depression, memory loss, or behavioral changes
  

The main health disorder associated with poor B12 absorption is pernicious anemia. It develops if an individual lacks an intrinsic factor, a protein made in the stomach necessary to absorb Vitamin B12.