ANEMIA IN THE ELDERLY
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Clinical Overview |
| Laboratory Parameters |
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Laboratory Parameters in Anemia Diagnosis | |||
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Hemoglobin | |
Serum Ferritin | |
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Hematocrit | |
Serum Folate | |
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Total Reticulocyte Count | |
Serum Vitamin B12 | |
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Serum Iron |  |
The Schilling Test | |
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Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) | |
Serum Erythropoietin | |
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In a patient with a vitamin B12deficient anemia, the Schilling test is used to determine if the deficiency is due to impairment in B12 absorption caused by a lack of intrinsic factor, pernicious anemia.
Patients are administered cyanocobalamin intramuscularly on Day 1 to saturate intestinal mucosal cells followed by an oral dose of radiolabeled B12 on Day 2. Excess cobalamin that is not absorbed is excreted in the urine, and collected over 24 hours.15
Abnormally low levels of cobalamin that is recovered indicate malabsorption or pernicious anemia; normal levels may indicate dietary insufficiency.15
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Site Reviewed August 2007
