THE METHYLMALONIC ACID INVESTIGATION

THE VITAMIN B12 AND FOLATE PATHOLOGY INVESTIGATION

THE INVESTIGATION OF ERRORS IN PATHOLOGY TESTS

FOR VITAMIN B12 AND FOLATE DEFICIENCY

BY MEANS OF MEDICAL EXPERIMENTS

INTRODUCTION	THE SERUM VITAMIN B12 INVESTIGATION	THE METHYLMALONIC ACID INVESTIGATION
THE HOMOCYSTEINE INVESTIGATION	THE HOLOTRANSCOBALAMIN INVESTIGATION	THE FOLATE INVESTIGATION
REFERENCES AND LINKS	B12 AND FOLATE INFORMATION	RESPONSES TO INVESTIGATION

THE MMA EXPERIMENT

MMA EVIDENCE

MMA ERRORS

Summary

Analytes and Laboratories

Objectives

Findings

Method

Series 1 Sample Collection

Analysis - CI

Observations

Results - Notes

Notes for Charts and Tables

Results - Series 1

Conclusions

Definitions

The following terms are used in the analysis of errors:

x - u = the difference between any result and the mean
pxu = probability that the difference between any result and the mean will be greater than the number of standard deviations (# SD) difference measured
pxu = complement of Confidence Interval, = 1 - CI, when considering the difference between any result and the mean
a -b = difference between two results
pab = probability that the difference between two results will be greater than the number of standard deviations (# SD) difference measured
pab = complement of Confidence Interval, = 1 - CI, when considering the difference between two results

Table of Confidence Intervals

Number of Standard Deviations difference for each confidence interval, for each test condition

-	CI	p	CI	p	CI	p
-	95%	<0.05	99.0%	,0.01	99.9%	<0.001
x - u	1.96		2.58		3.29
a - b	2.77		3.64		4.65

There is a probability calculator available in Sheet A21 in the Excel file, Series 1 - Serum B12 Investigation, which may be downloaded by selecting Access Documents under Evidence.

Chart of Probabilities

Chart A21

You can view a larger chart in a new window by selecting the link shown above the chart.

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