Note that the B shot which begins the<unk>  is enough to go a considerable way toward treating B deficiency, so the test is also a partial treatment for B deficiency. Also, the classic<unk>  can be performed at any time, even after full B repletion and correction of the anemia, and it will still show if the cause of the B deficiency was intrinsic-factor related. In fact, some clinicians have suggested that folate and B replacement for several weeks be normally performed before a<unk>  is done, since folate and B deficiencies are both known to interfere with intestinal cell function, and thus cause malabsorption of B on their own, even if intrinsic factor is being made. This state would then tend to cause a false-positive test for both simple B and intrinsic factor-related B malabsorption. Several weeks of vitamin replacement are necessary, before epithelial damage to the G.I. tract from B deficiency is corrected. Many labs have stopped performing the<unk> , due to lack of production of the cobalt radioisotopes and labeled-B test substances. Also, injection replacement of B has become relatively inexpensive, and can be self-administered by patients, as well as megadose oral B. Since these are the same treatments which would be administered for most causes of B malabsorption even if the exact cause were identified, the diagnostic test may be omitted without damage to the patient (so long as follow-up treatment and occasional serum B testing is not allowed to lapse). It is possible for use of other radiopharmaceuticals to interfere with interpretation of the test.
Schilling test
Alkali denaturation test
Beutler test
Lea test
Nardi test
Tecumseh step test
Prausnitz–Küstner test
Sweat test