Fecal Fat, Qualitative

Test Code

3967

CPT Codes
82705

Preferred Specimen

5 grams or 5 mL fresh random stool collected in a plastic leak-proof container

Patient Preparation
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.

Minimum Volume

1 g or 1 mL

Instructions

Collect approximately 5 grams of semi-solid to solid stool or approximately 5 mL of liquid stool and transfer to properly labeled leak-proof container. Transport sample frozen.

Transport Temperature

Frozen

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 5 days
Frozen: 30 days

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

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

Methodology
Microscopic Examination of Sudan III Stained Smear

Setup Schedule

Set up: Daily; Report available: 2 days

Limitations

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

Reference Range

See Laboratory Report

Clinical Significance

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.

Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
14225 Newbrook Drive
Chantilly, VA 20153

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.