Fecal Fat, Qualitative

Also known as: Fatty Acid, Stool, Neutral Fat, Stool, Qualitative Fat

Clinical Use

Use

Detect the presence of fecal fatty acids and neutral fat. Increases in neutral fat are commonly associated with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Increase in stool total fats (neutral fats, soaps, and fatty acids) is likely to be associated with small bowel disease.

Special Instructions

Not provided.

Limitations

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by LabCorp. It has not been cleared or approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Administration of barium, bismuth, Metamucil®, castor oil, mineral oil, or ingestion of oily salad dressing within one week prior to collection of the specimen may interfere with the results.

Test Details

Methodology

Other

Biomarkers

Fats, Neutral

Analyte

Concentration / Level

Concentration / Level • Quantitative (Continuous) (e.g., copies/mL, % expression)

Fats, Total

Analyte

Concentration / Level

Concentration / Level • Quantitative (Continuous) (e.g., copies/mL, % expression)

LOINC Codes

Order Codes

43118-9 - Fat Pnl Stl

Result Codes

12598-9 - Neutral Fat Stl Ql
42668-4 - FA Stl Ql

Result Turnaround Time

4-6 days

Specimen

Stool

Volume

Approximately 3 g

Minimum Volume

0.5 g

Container

Plastic screw-cap vial

Collection Instructions

Do not contaminate outside of container; do not overfill container.

Patient Preparation

Patient should be on a diet containing at least 60 g of fat. The patient should not use suppositories or mineral oil before the specimen is collected.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate at 2°C to 8°C.

Causes for Rejection

Specimen contaminated with urine and/or water; specimen on outside of container; specimen containing interfering substances (e.g., castor oil, bismuth, Metamucil®, barium)