Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

5 grams or 5 mL of random stool (Minimum volume 1 gram or 1 mL)

Limitations: Up to 12 grams of fat may be malabsorbed among patients with diarrhea even when the diarrhea is not attributable to fat malabsorption

Patient should be on a normal diet which includes fat intake. Patient should not use castor oil, mineral oil, suppositories or barium prior to collection of specimen. Fat substitutes such as Olestra may cause interference and should be avoided

Many specimens for fecal fat analysis are rejected due to stability issues. In the interest of patient care, please submit all stool specimens for fecal fat as frozen specimens. This will ensure a reduction in specimens that have exceeded stability.

Frozen.

Room Temperature: Unacceptable. Refrigerated: 5 days. Frozen: 30 days.

Thawed specimens. Specimens in transport media or on swabs. Samples submitted in paint cans.

Results may indicate malabsorption or maldigestion. False positive results can occur due to mineral oil or castor oil present in the specimen. Large number of neutral fat globules may indicate steatorrhea.

Microscopic Examination of Sudan-Stained Smear

Stool fat, lipids, Quest test code 3967, SFQL

Results may indicate malabsorption or maldigestion. False positive results can occur due to mineral oil or castor oil present in the specimen. Large number of neutral fat globules may indicate steatorrhea.