Schilling test

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Schilling Test

The Schilling test is a medical procedure used to determine whether the body absorbs vitamin B12 properly. It was named after American physician Robert F. Schilling, who developed the test.

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈʃɪlɪŋ tɛst/

Etymology

The term "Schilling test" is derived from the name of its developer, Robert F. Schilling, an American physician.

Procedure

The Schilling test is performed in four stages. In the first stage, the patient is given a small dose of radioactive vitamin B12 to drink or eat. After a few hours, a sample of the patient's urine is collected and tested for the presence of the radioactive vitamin. If the test results are normal, this indicates that the patient's body is absorbing vitamin B12 properly. If the test results are abnormal, this suggests that the patient may have pernicious anemia or some other condition that prevents the body from absorbing vitamin B12.

In the second stage of the Schilling test, the patient is given a protein called intrinsic factor along with the radioactive vitamin B12. If the test results are normal this time, this suggests that the patient's body is unable to produce intrinsic factor.

The third and fourth stages of the Schilling test involve testing for other conditions that can cause vitamin B12 malabsorption.

Related Terms

See Also

External links

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