Fecal Fat, Quantitative

Collect stool directly into can. Do not fill any can more than ²/₃ full. Secure lid with pressure and firmly attach the O-ring. State collection time on the can label. Place the can and the absorbent sheet into the leakproof plastic bag and seal. Send the entire can, or if submitting aliquot, follow this procedure:

1. Weigh specimen and collection container and subtract the weight of an empty container of same type (one-gallon can weight with lid: 360 g metal or 320 g plastic container). This is the “net weight” to be recorded on the test request form.

2. Open the container and observe whether the contents are liquid. If liquid stool, secure the lid, mix, and submit an aliquot of the total collection. If solid stool, add deionized water (approximately 500 mL) to the specimen container and mix thoroughly to create a homogenous specimen. Submit a 5 to 25 mL aliquot of the total collection in an empty stool transport vial (LabCorp N° 59517) or screw-cap urine bottle (LabCorp N° 20648), sterile no additives.

3. Record on both the container and the test request form the amount of water added to liquefy the stool or if no water was required.

Refrigerate specimen during collection and store at 2°C to 8°C.

Container more than ²/₃ full; container leaking; improper container (ie, non−LabCorp-approved paint can, paper cartons, coffee cans, plastic bags, etc); foreign matter other than feces inside of container (ie, spoons, tongue depressors, plastic bags, toilet paper, etc); patient not on special diet; improper labeling of container or test request form; specimen on outside of container; specimen contaminated with urine; aliquot without “net weight” and “amount of water added” to homogenize the sample