Steatocrit

General Information

The steatocrit is a measure of the amount of fat in faeces. Fat content is expressed as a percentage, derived from the volume of fatty layer by the volume of liquid-free faecal layer after centrifugation. It is a more convenient alternative to the 72 hour faecal fat test as it requires only a single stool sample.

There is a reasonable correlation between steatocrit and 72 hour faecal fat measurements and the steatocrit has been shown to be a reliable screening test for steatorrhoea.

This test in no longer offered. For the investigation of steatorrhoea please see fat globules.

Patient Preparation

It is preferable that patients have been on a diet containing 70-100g fat per day for at least 3 days prior to and on the day of sample collection.

Notes

Both term and premature infants show high and widely variable steatocrit values in the first 6 months of life ("physiological steatorrhoea"). Human milk-fed babies' steatocrits decrease earlier than formula fed babies. In the first month of life the steatocrit may give very high values (eg. even up to 80-100%) with no differences between feeding regimes

Reference Range

Provided by Reference Laboratory

Link to Further Information

http://n3.bestpractice.bmj.com/best-practice/monograph/770/diagnosis.html

Department

Suitable Specimen Types

Sample Preparation

Turnaround Time

Sample Stability

Steatocrit

General Information

Patient Preparation

Notes

Reference Range

Link to Further Information

Date Record Created

Date last updated

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