A nurse is providing care for a patient who the healthcare provider suspects may have pernicious anemia.
Which diagnostic test should the nurse anticipate the healthcare provider will order?

Choice A rationale

Frothy pink drainage is not typically associated with an upper gastrointestinal bleed. This type of drainage might be seen in other conditions, such as pulmonary edema where the fluid from the lungs can sometimes appear frothy and pink.

Choice B rationale

Coffee-ground drainage is a common finding in patients with an active upper gastrointestinal bleed. When blood mixes with gastric acid, it can create a substance that resembles coffee grounds. This is often seen when a nasogastric (NG) tube is inserted into the patient.

Choice C rationale

Dark amber drainage is not typically associated with an upper gastrointestinal bleed. This type of drainage might be seen in other conditions, such as liver disease where the urine can sometimes appear dark amber.

Choice D rationale

Greenish-yellow drainage is not typically associated with an upper gastrointestinal bleed. This type of drainage might be seen in other conditions, such as bile duct obstruction where the bile can sometimes appear greenish-yellow.

Choice A rationale

A sweat test is used to diagnose cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs and digestive system. It is not used to diagnose pernicious anemia.

Choice B rationale

Haptoglobin is a protein produced by the liver that binds to hemoglobin in the blood to prevent it from being excreted through the kidneys. While it can be used to diagnose conditions that cause the destruction of red blood cells, it is not used to diagnose pernicious anemia.

Choice C rationale

The Schilling test is used to determine whether the body absorbs vitamin B12 normally, which is crucial for the diagnosis of pernicious anemia. Pernicious anemia is a condition where the body is unable to absorb vitamin B12 due to a lack of intrinsic factor, a protein made in the stomach.

Choice D rationale

Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) are a type of autoantibody that can attack the body’s own tissues. While they can be present in various autoimmune diseases, they are not used to diagnose pernicious anemia.