1.0 mL Serum in a SST Gold Top Tube
14 days Refrigerated
30 days Frozen
0.3 mL
Negative: < or = 20.0 Units
Equivocal: 20.1 - 24.9 Units
Positive: > or = 25.0 Units
Anti-gastric parietal cell antibodies (Anti-GPA) were previously tested for by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), using mouse stomach as a substrate. Identification of the specific antibody target as H+/K ATPase protein (a gastric proton pump) has led to the development of an ELISA based assay. Antibodies to this protein are present in approximately 80% of patients with pernicious anemia and a small percentage of the general adult population. The latter percentage increases with age and may reflect the presence of atrophic gastritis. A negative test does not exclude a diagnosis of pernicious anemia. A test for
intrinsic factor blocking antibody (IFab) may provide serological evidence in support of the diagnosis in some of these patients.
1 to 4 days
00917149
83516