National Nursing Review : Nursing Study Resources & Health Tips

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; (more…)