Ordering Recommendation

Measurement of fecal fats can be useful in establishing a diagnosis of pancreatic disease. Testing requires the submission of an aliquot from a 24-, 48-, or 72-hour stool collection.
For random stool collections, order Fat, Fecal Qualitative (0020385).
For complete 24-hour stool collections, order Fat, Fecal Quantitative, 24-Hour Collection (Includes Homogenization) (2002354).
For complete 48-hour stool collections, order Fat, Fecal Quantitative, 48-Hour Collection (Includes Homogenization) (2002355).
For complete 72-hour stool collections, order Fat, Fecal Quantitative, 72-Hour Collection (Includes Homogenization) (2002356).

New York DOH Approval Status

This test is New York state approved.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation

The patient should be on a diet consisting of 50 to 150 g of fat per day for 3 days prior to the study.  Nonabsorbable fat substitutes, such as olestra, should be a
voided prior to collection.

Collect

24-, 48-, or 72-hour stool collection. Refrigerate during collection.

Specimen Preparation

Weigh entire collection. Homogenize entire collection (using a graduated cylinder, add sufficient water to give "milk shake" consistency) and aliquot 20 mL (20 g) to a clean, unpreserved vial (ARUP supply #40910). (Min: 5 mL) Collection can be obtained using a Timed Stool Collection Kit (ARUP supply #44192). Additional containers may be used as needed (ARUP supply #28077). Available online through eSupply using ARUP Connect™ or contact ARUP Client Services at 800-522-2787.  A homogenized aliquot should be made and submitted from these collection containers. Refer to instructions in Stool Collection-Timed Specimens (24, 48, 72 Hours) under Specimen Handling at www.aruplab.com.

Storage/Transport Temperature

Frozen.

Unacceptable Conditions

Random collections. Specimens containing barium or charcoal. Specimens in media or preservatives. Containers larger than 500 mL (500 g), such as paint cans, will be rejected and discarded. Submissions without collection time and weight information.

Remarks

Provide weight of entire collection, volume of water added for homogenization (if applicable), and duration of collection. Complete information is required in order to perform accurate calculations. If weight and time are not provided, the specimen is  assumed to be a random collection. Alternative testing can be performed. See Fat, Fecal Qualitative (ARUP test code 0020385).

Stability

Ambient: 12 hours; Refrigerated: 4 days; Frozen: 2 weeks

Methodology

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Performed

Sun-Sat

Reported

2-3 days

Reference Interval

0-5 years: 0.0-2.0 g/24h
6 years and older: 0.0-6.0 g/24h

Interpretive Data



Compliance Category

Laboratory Developed Test (LDT)

Note

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

82710

Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
0020378 Fat, Fecal Quantitative 16142-2
0060717 Collection Time for Fecal Specimen 13363-7
0097131 Fecal Weight 30078-0
* Component test codes cannot be used to order tests. The information provided here is not sufficient for interface builds; for a complete test mix, please click the sidebar link to access the Interface Map.

Aliases

  • Fat, Quant
  • Fat, Quantitative
  • Fecal fat aliquot
  • fecal fat homogenized aliquot
  • Fecal Fat, Quantitative
  • Fecal Lipids
  • Quantitative Fecal
  • Stool Fat, Quantitative
  • Total Fat, Quantitative
Fat, Fecal Quantitative, Homogenized Aliquot