The Schilling test explores the absorption of vitamin B12, which is normally at the terminal ileum. The absorption of this vitamin requires the presence of a factor secreted by the stomach, intrinsic factor (also called factor Castle). Mal-absorption and can guide a disease linked to lack of intrinsic factor.
Let the patient have received in the last 8 days of vitamin B12
The test is simple, but less and less used. It involves the ingestion and injection of cobalamin:
At T0: after emptying the bladder, to swallow a capsule of vitamin B12 labeled with cobalt 58;


T +30 minutes to ingest a capsule of vitamin B12 labeled with cobalt 57 added to the intrinsic factor;
A T 120 minutes, making one intramuscular injection of 100 micrograms of vitamin B12 cold (ie without tracer). A local reaction is possible due to the corrosive nature of the product.


Collect the urine in 24 hours and J2 collect first urine of the day in a container and sent to the laboratory.

Results:
The excretion of 8 to 40% of vitamin B12 in 24 hours is normal. A low rate of B12 marked 57 and 58 sign intestinal malabsorption, a low rate of only 58 referrals to a pernicious anemia.

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