Pernicious Anaemia Society, June 2011

Diagnosing B12 Deficiency - Problems, Consequences and Resolution.

The Pernicious Anaemia Society held a symposium and study day in Porthcawl, Wales in June 2011 to highlight the problems of diagnosing B12 deficiency and the potentially serious implications. A number of informative talks were given from leading experts on Vitamin B12.

The speakers recognised that current testing for B12 status using the Total B12 assay is flawed due to the non-specific nature of the test.

Several of the speakers recommended the use of the more specific and sensitive Active-B12 assay for diagnosing B12 deficiency

Dr Fiona Porter-Smith, GP, Cwm Garw Practice, Bridgend.

The Problems of Diagnosing B12 Deficiency: The Patient Perspective

Professor John Scott, Professor of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin

The Absorption of Vitamin B12 and it's Interruptions; revisited

Dr Anne Molloy, Clinical Lead, Vitamin Research Group, Trinity College Dublin

Should HoloTC be the first line diagnostics procedure for assessment of vitamin B12 status? A comparison of the performance of blood indicators of tissue B12 status

Professor Helga Refsum and Professor David Smith, University of Oxford

Low-normal B12 status: assessment, prevalence and association with disease

Dr Siddarth Banka, Regional Genetics Service, University of Manchester

Pernicious Anaemia - Genetic Insights

Professor John Hunter, Professor of Medicine, University of Cranfield

Does the large bowel sometimes have an effect on B12 metabolism?

Dr Joseph Chandy, GP, Shinwell Medical Centre

A Protocol for B12 Diagnosis and Treatment by Primary Care Clinicians

The symposium concluded with a powerful documentary made by the society entitled 'Living with the Fog'. The film highlights the serious issues in diagnosis and treatment of B12 deficiency and the devastating effects it can have on patients.

The documentary will shortly be available to view on this page.