HealthWise KnowledgeBase
Vitamin B12
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 Reference dementia Opens New Window or other nervous system symptoms, such as tingling or numbness of the arms or legs (Reference peripheral neuropathy).
- See if vitamin B12 deficiency anemia is present after a person has been diagnosed with Reference atrophic gastritis Opens New Window.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference December 14, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Brian Leber, MDCM, FRCPC - Hematology |
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