Parietal Cell Antibody, IFA

This test is used to evaluate patients with pernicious anaemia or immune-mediated deficiency of Vitamin B-12 with or without megaloblastic anaemia. Parietal cell antibodies are found in 70 to 90% of patients with pernicious anaemia, 50% of individuals with gastric atrophy without pernicious anaemia and up to 15% of the unselected adult population. The testing used is intrinsic factor antibodies (IFA).