Marker group

Autoantibodies

Plain-English guides to the autoantibodies markers we measure and what your results mean, written to inform the conversation with your practitioner.

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Intrinsic Factor Antibodies (IFAB)$99

Measures Intrinsic Factor Antibodies

No GP referral needed
Blood drawn at a Sonic collection centre
Results in 5 to 7 business days

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Markers in this group

Intrinsic Factor AntibodiesThis blood test looks for an antibody that can block your body from absorbing vitamin B12. Your gut needs a helper protein called intrinsic factor to take up B12; in a condition called pernicious anaemia the immune system blocks it, so B12 falls. A positive result points strongly to that cause, and is usually checked only when B12 is already low.

Reading results in this group

low

A low antibody level is the expected, reassuring finding.

Possible reasons:

A low or negative level is the expected finding in most people.

Next steps: No follow-up is usually needed.

in range

A negative result means no significant autoantibody was detected at the time of testing.

Possible reasons:

No significant autoantibody was detected at the time of testing.

Next steps: No follow-up is usually needed unless symptoms persist.

elevated

A raised autoantibody can reflect an immune response directed at the body's own tissue. It is interpreted by a health practitioner alongside your symptoms and other tests, not on its own.

Possible reasons:

An immune response directed at the body's own tissue is one possible reason, which a health practitioner would interpret.
Antibody levels can vary between laboratories and assays.

Next steps: Discuss with your GP, who can interpret this alongside your symptoms and other results.

Test your autoantibodies

NATA-accredited testing. Results in 3 to 5 business days. No GP referral required.

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