Vitamin B12, active Holo Transcobalamin Test

Vitamin B12 which is also known by the scientific name cobalamin in serum is actually bound to two proteins namely transcobalamin (TC) as well as haptocorrin (HC). The transcobalamin-vitamin B12 complex is also known by the name holotranscobalamin (HoloTC). HoloTC contains the available cobalamin and apart from that, it is also known that HoloTC promotes the uptake of cobalamin by all cells through some of the specific receptors. For instance, approximately 80% of the cobalamin carried by HC can be regarded as metabolically inert as no cellular receptors exist, with the exception of receptors that is found in the liver. The shorter circulating half-life of HoloTC decreases HoloTC and this becomes one of the earliest indications of cobalamin deficiency.

This test actually evaluates the concentration of active B12 in the plasma of a person and in this method, the half-life of the vitamin in the plasma is used. The procedure involves a blood test and for this many of the doctors actually recommend an overnight fasting subject to the condition of the person. Therefore, it is highly recommended that a person follows the guidelines of the physician and then get himself ready to undergo the test. It is advisable that the person reaches the laboratory few minutes earlier.

With the help of this test, large inter-determinate zones can widely be detected, however it has to be noted that the reference intervals can vary from laboratory to laboratory. There’s also a chance that neuropsychiatric and metabolic abnormalities can occur if the concentrations of the vitamin B12 is within the normal reference and these can be detected with help of this test.

As mentioned above, the procedure involves simple blood test which is actually carried out through the following steps The skin is initially cleaned with alcohol or spirit A needle is then inserted into the vein of a person and the vein which is clearly visible to the naked eye is selected to make the task a lot simpler than it was before. The blood is then dragged out and the sample is sent to the laboratory for further proceedings.