A survey and critical evaluation of a dual isotope (Dicopac) vitamin B12 absorption test.

The results of all dual isotope tests (2142) carried out on 1989 patients, 807 males (40.6%) and 1182 females (59.4%), during a 10 year period (1976-1985 inclusive) in the Grampian Health Board Area (population 497,272) have been reviewed. Patient age ranged from 5-95 years with 45.5% over 60 years. The referring specialties were Gastroenterology (47.6%), Haematology (11.3%), Paediatrics (2.1%) and all others (39.0%). According to the manufacturer's recommended criteria, results were classified as normal in 1054 (49.2%), abnormal in 659 (30.8%), equivocal in 337 (15.7%) and unsatisfactory in 92 (4.3%) tests. Vitamin B12 malabsorption of ileal type was indicated in 544 tests (25.4%) and of gastric type in 115 (5.4%). Of the latter, 76 were related to pernicious anaemia, 10 to previous gastric surgery and 2 to gastric carcinoma. Of the 337 patients with equivocal results, 138 patients were reviewed and 115 (83.3%) found to have a documented cause for gastric malabsorption (96 pernicious anaemia and 19 previous gastric surgery). In 172 patients with proven pernicious anaemia the manufacturer's recommended criteria for gastric malabsorption were completely satisfied in only 76 (44.3%) but 167 (96.5%) had an excretion ratio greater than or equal to 1.3 and 127 (73.8%) a ratio greater than or equal to 1.7. Unsatisfactory tests were mainly due to incomplete urine collection (91.3%) or contamination with another isotope (5.4%).