The fecal fat test measures the amount of fat in the stool, and the percentage of dietary fat that is not taken in by the body.
Alternative NamesQuantitative stool fat determination; Fat absorption
How the test is performedAdults and children:
There are many ways to collect the samples. You can catch the stool on plastic wrap that is loosely placed over the toilet bowl and held in place by the toilet seat. Then put the sample in a clean container. One test kit supplies a special toilet tissue that you use to collect the sample, then put the sample in a clean container.
Infants and young children:
For children wearing diapers, you can line the diaper with plastic wrap. If the plastic wrap is positioned properly, you can prevent mixing of urine and stool. Preventing such mixing can give a better sample.
Collect all stool excreted over a period of 24-hours (or sometimes 3 days) in special containers, label the containers with name, time, and date, and send them to the laboratory.
How to prepare for the testConsume a normal diet containing about 100 grams of fat per day for 3 days before starting the test. The health care provider may advise you to discontinue use of substances that can affect test results, for example, drugs or food additives.
How the test will feelThe test involves only normal defecation, and there is no discomfort.
Why the test is performedThis test is used to evaluate fat absorption as an indication of how the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and intestines are working.
Fat malabsorption can cause a change in your stools called steatorrhea. Normal fat absorption requires bile from the gallbladder (or liver if the gallbladder has been removed), enzymes from the pancreas, and normal intestines.
Normal ValuesLess than 7 grams of fat per 24 hours.
What abnormal results meanDecreased fat absorption may result from:
There are no risks.
Special considerationsFactors that interfere with the test are:
The fecal fat test measures the amount of fat in the stool, which helps estimate the percentage of dietary fat that the body does not absorb.
Alternative NamesQuantitative stool fat determination; Fat absorption
How the test is performedAdults and children:
There are many ways to collect the samples. You can catch the stool on plastic wrap that is loosely placed over the toilet bowl and held in place by the toilet seat. Then put the sample in a clean container. One test kit supplies a special toilet tissue that you use to collect the sample, then put the sample in a clean container.
Infants and young children:
For children wearing diapers, you can line the diaper with plastic wrap. If the plastic wrap is positioned properly, you can prevent mixing of urine and stool. Preventing such mixing can give a better sample.
Collect all stool that is released over a 24-hour period (or sometimes 3 days) in special containers. Label the containers with name, time, and date, and send them to the laboratory.
How to prepare for the testEat a normal diet containing about 100 grams of fat per day for 3 days before starting the test. The health care provider may ask you to stop using substances that can affect test results, such as drugs or food additives.
How the test will feelThe test involves only normal bowel movements. There is no discomfort.
Why the test is performedThis test evaluates fat absorption to tell how well the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and intestines are working.
Fat malabsorption can cause a change in your stools called steatorrhea. To absorb fat normally, the body needs bilefrom the gallbladder (or liver if the gallbladder has been removed), enzymes from the pancreas, and normal intestines.
Normal ValuesLess than 7 grams of fat per 24 hours.
What abnormal results meanDecreased fat absorption may be caused by:
There are no risks.
Special considerationsFactors that interfere with the test are:
Semrad CE, Powell DW. Approach to the patient with diarrhea and malabsorption. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 143.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 08/14/2010
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Drugs that may increase fecal fat levels include enemas and laxatives, especially mineral oil. Drugs that may decrease fecal fat include Metamucil and barium.
Steatorrhea is excess fecal fat.
It can float depending on its fat content
Stool fats, also known as fecal fats, or fecal lipids, are fats that are excreted in the feces.
Steatorrhea means a discharge of fat. Discharge of fat in the feces due to improper digestion and malabsorption of fat.
It is droplets of fat contained in the stool. A fecal fat test shows how many fat globules are in the stool.
Excessive excretion of fecal fat is called steatorrhea, a condition that is suspected when the patient has large, "greasy," and foul-smelling stools.
whenever you are angry,tired that time fats improperly digested.
only when the person has a lot of fat in his/her blood
Increased fecal fat levels are found in cystic fibrosis, malabsorption secondary to other conditions like Whipple's disease or Crohn's disease, maldigestion secondary to pancreatic or bile duct obstruction, and "short-gut" syndrome
Laboratory tests like fecal fat, a measurement of fat in stool samples collected over 72 hours, are the most reliable tests for diagnosing fat malabsorption, but abnormalities of the small intestine itself are diagnosed by small-intestine biopsy.
The most common cause of bright red blood in the stool is hemorrhoids. you need to consider the situation: is it appear after eating? what types of food? any other symptoms? Regarding the oily stools, you may want to inquire about fat malabsorption - this can be evaluated with a quantitive fecal fat test .