Fecal Lipids, Total

Fat, Fecal Quantitative, Split Fats, Unesterified Fatty Acids, Lipids, Stool

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1232054, Beaker: FECAL LIPIDS, Quest: 455

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

• Specimen collection containers can be obtained from Corewell Health East Laboratory at 1-800-551-0488.
• For 3 days prior to and during collection:
  • Patient should be on a fat-controlled diet (100-150 grams fat per day).
  • No laxatives (particularly mineral oil and castor oil).
  • No synthetic fat substitutes (e.g. Olestra) or fat-blocking nutritional supplements.
• The use of diaper rash ointments will falsely elevate test results. Discontinue use during collection period.
• Barium interferes with this test procedure. A waiting period of 48 hours before stool collection analysis is recommended.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): 72-hour stool specimen.
Also acceptable: 24-hour or 48-hour stool specimen. (Minimum: 3.0 grams)

NOTE: the length of collection on the specimen.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Do not submit specimen in metal paint cans, as processing poses a safety hazard. Specimens received in paint cans will be rejected.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Maintain specimen frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Entire stool specimen collection, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below).

Rejection Criteria

• Specimen received in paint cans.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Maintain specimen frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below) prior to transport.

Transport: Entire stool specimen collection, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below).

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 7 days
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 28 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Quest Diagnostics, Wood Dale, IL.

Performed

Monday – Thursday.
Results available in 4-8 days.

Reference Range

Test Methodology

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Interpretation

By report.

Clinical Utility

Fecal Fat, Total, Quantitative – Increased in disease of the pancreas, cystic fibrosis, celiac syndrome, bile duct obstruction, diarrhea, and lipase deficiency.

CPT Codes

82710

Contacts

Last Updated

12/19/2025