Parietal Cell Antibody Test with Reflex to Titer

This test screens serum for antibodies against gastric parietal cells, using an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) at Quest. The expected result is negative. If the screen is positive, the lab automatically performs a parietal cell antibody titer on the same sample, which shows how strongly positive the result is.

People with iron deficiency or vitamin B12 deficiency that has no clear explanation; people with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, type 1 diabetes or another autoimmune condition who want to check for stomach autoimmunity; people with a family history of pernicious anemia; and anyone a clinician is evaluating for autoimmune gastritis.

Any time; this test needs no special timing or fasting. It is most informative when you are investigating low B12, low ferritin or iron, or anemia without an obvious cause, or as part of a check for other autoimmune conditions after an autoimmune thyroid diagnosis.

Negative means parietal cell antibodies were not detected, which makes autoimmune gastritis less likely, though a clinician may still investigate if symptoms or other results point that way. Positive means antibodies are present, and your report will also include a titer showing how strongly positive the result is. Because these antibodies also occur in some healthy people and in other autoimmune disorders, a positive result is not a diagnosis on its own, whatever the titer. It is read together with gastrin, intrinsic factor antibodies, B12, iron studies and a blood count, and confirming autoimmune gastritis usually involves a gastroenterologist and stomach biopsies taken during an endoscopy. JustLabs results are informational; review them with a clinician.