Fecal Fat, Stool (Referred Out ) - Saskatoon

Overview

Description

Ordering recommendation   

Patient preparation instruction

1. For 3-5 days prior to and during the collection period:
   • Patient should be on a fat-controlled diet (100-150 g fat per day).
   • No laxatives (particularly mineral oil and castor oil).
   • No synthetic fat substitutes (e.g., Olestra) or fat-blocking nutritional supplements.
   • Avoid medications that interfere fat absorption during the collection
2. The use of diaper rash ointments will falsely elevate test results. Discontinue use during collection period.
3. Barium interferes with test procedure; a waiting period of 48 hours before stool collection analysis is recommended.

Test ordering requirements

Forms required

• Requisitions must have specific test indicated
• Miscellaneous Specimen Requisition Form #101878 or SHR Laboratory Medicine Community Laboratory Requisition Form #101064 or Acute Care Phlebotomy Requisition Form #101062

Alias

• Stool, Fat
• Fecal Fat, Quantitative
• Lipids, Stool

Specimen Information

Specimen types accepted

Feces

• 24, 48, 72 hour collection OR
• Random collection

Specimen collection container

• Preferred collection container: Fecal Fat Collection Kit

Collection procedure

• Patient can store sample at refrigerate temperature during collection period
• Length of collection period is required
• Bring specimen to the lab as soon as collection is completed or within 24 hours

Required volume

• Optimal volume: Entire 24, 48 or 72 hour collection
• Minimum volume: The entire collection must contain at least 5 grams of feces. For a random collection, a minimum of 5 g is required (do not send the entire collection).

(Submitting the minimum volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory/reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum volume may require a second collection.

Transport and stability

• Refrigerated: 180 days; Frozen: 180 days (preferred)

Rejection criteria

• Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Acceptance and Rejection Criteria

Performance

Methodology

• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy

Days/times performed

Availability	Shipped overnight Mondays and Wednesdays
Testing site	Referred out by St. Paul's Hospital Laboratory Mayo Medical Laboratories (Rochester, MN)

 

Maximum laboratory time

Results reporting

• 3 day turnaround time by referral laboratory

Other information

Additional comments

• Diagnosing fat malabsorption due to pancreatic or intestinal disorders
• Monitoring effectiveness of enzyme supplementation in certain malabsorption disorders
• Reference ranges have not been established for patients who are <18 years of age

Last Updated: January 9, 2026