| Test Name: | Fecal Elastase |
| Alternate Name(s): | Elastase 1 |
| Laboratory: | Core |
| Specimen Type: | Random stool |
| Collection Information: | Collect a minimum of 5 mL of random stool in a sterile container and freeze before sending.
This test is available to London Health Sciences Centre patients of Dr. April Price, Dr. Brian Lyttle, Dr. Heather Racz, Dr. James Lewis, Dr.Dirk Bock, Dr. Kevin Bax, Dr. Dhandapani Ashok and Dr. Nadeem Hussain. Specimens from outside laboratories will not be processed
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| Requisition: | GENERAL LABORATORY REQUISITION |
| Test Schedule: | Referred out Monday-Thursday as required |
Turnaround time from when specimen
is received in testing laboratory: | | | |
| Reference Range: | Suggestive of Pancreatic Insufficiency:
<100 µg/g
Suggestive of Pancreatic Sufficiency:
>100 µg/g |
| Effective Date: | 2009-07-06 |
| Revised Date: | 2016-03-09 |
| Critical Value: | |
| Interpretive Comments: | Fecal elastase refers to the testing of the concentration of the pancreatic elastase-1 enzyme found in fecal matter with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results of this test can give a good indication of exocrine pancreatic status and is less invasive and expensive that the current “gold standard”, secretin-cholecystokinin test.1 Levels of fecal elastase lower than 200 μg / g of stool indicate an exocrine insufficiency. Correlations between low levels and chronic pancreatitis2 and cancer3 have been reported.
References:
1. Molinari, I., et al., Fecal chymotrypsin and elastase-1 determination on one single stool collected at random: diagnostic value for exocrine pancreatic status. Clin Biochem, 2004. 37(9): p. 758-76
2. Fecal Elastase 1 ELISA For Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: Comparison With ERCP-Morphology And Fecal Fat Excretion
3. Role of Fecal Elastase 1 in Pancreatic Cancer: A Pilot Study |
| Special Processing: | Referred out from St. Joseph's Health Care Core Laboratory. |
| Comments: | Referred out Monday - Thursday |
| Method of Analysis: | ELISA |
| Critical Information Required: | |
| Storage & Shipment: | The specimen must be shipped, and should be kept frozen until shipping and sent on dry ice.
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| System Codes: | | |
| Referred To: | In-Common Laboratories |
