Background: A reliable early marker is required for diagnosis of cobalamin deficiency. We calculated an appropriate holotranscobalamin (HoloTC) cut-off point for identifying cobalamin deficiency using an immunoenzymatic assay.
Methods: Determination of the cut-off threshold and correlation between HoloTC and the other diagnostic parameters routinely used for vitamin B(12) deficiency [total vitamin B(12) (tB(12)), folate, homocysteine] were measured in 250 routine blood specimens from 107 men (mean age 59.0+/-18.8 years) and 143 women (mean age 54.2+/-23.1 years). The inclusion criterion was serum tB(12) concentration <or=221 pmol/L.
Results: Analytical performance results agreed with those reported by others. A weak correlation (R=0.42) was found between HoloTC and tB(12). A 40 pmol/L cut-off threshold was chosen for HoloTC and the associated sensitivity and specificity was 0.86 and 0.66, respectively. Out of 250 tested samples, 126 showed tB(12) concentrations 139-221 pmol/L (gray zone, GZ) and 124 had tB(12) concentrations <139 pmol/L (low, L). Values less than the cut-off for HoloTC were present in 68.2% and 37.9% of cases in the GZ and L group, respectively (p<0.01), and in 53.2% of subjects.
Conclusions: Our results confirmed the analytical reliability of the AxSYM HoloTC assay. The method is adequate for routine use and a cut-off threshold of 40 pmol/L is appropriate for assessing cobalamin deficiency in populations with reduced tB(12) values.