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The purpose of this study is to determine the cause of your vitamin B12 deficiency.
On arrival, you will be asked to provide a small urine sample as a baseline before we start the test. After that you will swallow a capsule containing a small amount of radioactivity with a glass of water. After 1-2h you will be given an intramuscular injection of non-radioactive vitamin B12. You will be asked to collect all your urine for 24 hours in the provided container and return it the next day to the Department of Nuclear Medicine .It is very important to not miss any urine. However, if there is a spillage, please make an estimate urine loss.
If you are pregnant, or you think you might be pregnant, or breast feeding we need to know before the procedure is initiated.
We would prefer that you do not bring more than one person with you. It is advisable not to have a pregnant woman or a small child with you. This is to avoid exposing them to unnecessary radiation. It is also preferable to avoid prolonged close contact (hugging a child / sitting with a child on your knee for more than half an hour) for the rest of the day.
You should not eat or drink anything for 8-12 hrs before the study except for water. Please stop taking any vitamin preparations containing B12 for 3 days before the study. You may take your other medication as normal.
The amount of radioactivity you receive in this study is strictly within the recommended national level. At this level, the benefit to you from a diagnosis of your condition outweighs the risk (negligible) of any harm associated with the radiation you will receive.
You may eat, drink and take your medication as normal.
The Nuclear Medicine doctor will report on the study, which will be sent to the doctor who requested the study. He/she will be able to discuss the results with you in relation to other tests you may have had.