Pancreatic Elastase, Feces
Use
The Pancreatic Elastase test is useful for evaluating patients with suspected exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), indicated by symptoms such as unexplained diarrhea, constipation, steatorrhea, flatulence, weight loss, upper abdominal pain, and food intolerances. It is also used for monitoring exocrine pancreatic function in conditions like cystic fibrosis, diabetes mellitus, or chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatic elastase measurement in stool is a preferred initial test for evaluating pancreatic disease and malabsorption symptoms. It provides a practical alternative to the cumbersome 72-hour fecal fat test, as reduced stool elastase concentrations indicate diminished pancreatic enzyme production, which is suggestive of EPI.
Special Instructions
The test requires a fresh random fecal specimen collected without preservatives. The specimen should be refrigerated immediately or frozen if it cannot be shipped immediately. Tests cannot be added to previously collected specimens. Separate specimens must be provided for additional tests unless otherwise noted.
Limitations
Normal concentrations of fecal pancreatic elastase do not exclude the possibility of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, particularly in cases of mild or moderate disease. The test may have a false-positive rate, especially in patients with a low pre-test probability for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. The consistency of the fecal sample can affect the test's analytical performance. The sensitivity and specificity are comparably lower than secretin stimulation testing, with a pooled sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 88% in meta-analyses.
FDA ApprovedNew York Approved
Methodology
Immunoassay (ELISA)
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 25907-7
- 25907-7
Result Turnaround Time
3-5 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Stool
Volume
5 g
Minimum Volume
1 g
Container
Stool container
Collection Instructions
Collect a fresh random fecal specimen, no preservatives. If the specimen is sent refrigerate, send immediately after collection. If it cannot be sent immediately, freeze specimen and send frozen.
Storage Instructions
Preferred shipping temperature is frozen. Refrigerated or ambient specimens received more than 72 hours post collection will be rejected.
Causes for Rejection
Specimens collected from diapers
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | 72 hours |
| Refrigerated | 72 hours |
| Frozen | 28 days |