Test Code LAB857 Intrinsic Factor Blocking Antibody, Serum
Reporting Name
Intrinsic Factor Blocking Ab, SUseful For
Confirming the diagnosis of pernicious anemia
Testing Algorithm
For more information, see Vitamin B12 Deficiency Evaluation.
Performing Laboratory

Specimen Type
SerumOrdering Guidance
For a comprehensive workup of patients with suspected pernicious anemia, order ACASM / Pernicious Anemia Cascade, Serum, which initiates testing with measurement of vitamin B12. Depending of the vitamin B12 concentration, testing for intrinsic factor blocking antibody, gastrin, and methylmalonic acid may be added.
Specimen Required
Patient Preparation:
1. Fasting: 8 hours, required
2. This test should not be performed on patients who have received a vitamin B12 injection or radiolabeled vitamin B12 injection within the previous 2 weeks.
Collection Container/Tube:
Preferred: Serum gel
Acceptable: Red top
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.
Specimen Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
---|---|---|
Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 14 days |
Frozen | 14 days |
Special Instructions
Reference Values
Negative
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Friday
Test Classification
This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.CPT Code Information
86340
LOINC Code Information
Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
IFBA | Intrinsic Factor Blocking Ab, S | 31444-3 |
Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
IFBLA | Intrinsic Factor Blocking Ab, S | 31444-3 |
CMT31 | Comment | 48767-8 |
Cautions
Patients who have received a vitamin B12 injection or radiolabeled vitamin B12 injection within the previous 2 weeks may have high serum vitamin B12 levels, which can interfere with this assay leading to falsely elevated results.
Some patients with other autoimmune diseases may have positive intrinsic factor blocking antibody (IFBA) assays without suffering from pernicious anemia (PA). This is reported particularly in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease or type I diabetes mellitus. In the validation of this assay, 24 individuals with these autoimmune endocrine diseases were tested and all were IFBA negative. However, 5 of 15 of patients with rheumatoid arthritis were IFBA positive during the validation of this assay. The literature suggests such individuals may, in fact, be at risk of later development of PA.
Since this is a competitive binding assay, the risk of heterophile antibody interference is low. During validation, 24 human antimouse antibody positive specimens and 25 specimens with other heterophile antibodies were tested and all were IFBA negative. However, if the clinical picture does not agree with the IFBA test result, the laboratory should be consulted for advice.
Report Available
1 day to 3 daysReject Due To
Gross hemolysis | Reject |
Gross lipemia | OK |
NY State Approved
YesMethod Name
Immunoenzymatic Assay