pH, Stool

Test Code

STPH

Alias/See Also

pH, Feces

Quest Code
1304

CPT Codes
83986

Preferred Specimen

5g stool collected in a sterile plastic leakproof container

Minimum Volume

1 gram stool

Instructions

Random liquid or soft stool specimen collected in sterile plastic container or stool specimen container with spork. Adult and older children patients can collect the specimen by passing feces into plastic wrap stretched loosely over the toilet bowl. Then transfer 5 g of the stool specimen into the plastic container. With young children and infants wearing diapers, the diaper should be lined with clean plastic wrap to prevent absorption. A pediatric urine bag can be attached to the child to ensure that the stool specimen is not contaminated with urine. Then transfer 5 g of the stool specimen from the plastic lined diaper to the plastic container. Do not submit the diaper itself.

Transport Temperature

Frozen

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 4 hours
Refrigerated: 24 hours
Frozen: 60 days

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

Received thawed
Fecal specimens received in paint can

Methodology
Potentiometry

Setup Schedule

Sunday-Friday evenings

Report Available

2 days

Clinical Significance

Screen for carbohydrate and fat malabsorption, and is also used to evaluate small intestinal disaccharidase deficiencies.

Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
Chantilly, VA

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.