A new method for chemical analysis of faeces

Area of Science:

• Clinical chemistry
• Gastroenterology
• Biochemical analysis

Background:

• Stool analysis is crucial for diagnosing gastrointestinal disorders.
• Limited methods exist for comprehensive biochemical analysis of stool fluid.
• Understanding fecal fluid composition can aid in differentiating various diarrheal conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish reference intervals for key clinical chemical parameters in stool ultrafiltrate from healthy individuals.
• To compare these reference intervals with data from patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, and individuals with ileostomies.
• To assess the utility of stool ultrafiltrate analysis in diagnosing and differentiating gastrointestinal conditions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a centriflo membrane cone filter to obtain ultrafiltrate from 24-hour stool specimens.
• Analyzed the ultrafiltrate for multiple clinical chemical parameters: pH, osmolality, creatinine, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, bicarbonate, phosphate, and lactate.
• Established reference intervals using samples from a control group of healthy individuals.

Main Results:

• Successfully obtained and analyzed stool ultrafiltrate for a comprehensive panel of clinical chemical parameters.
• Defined reference intervals for these parameters in healthy subjects.
• Observed distinct differences in parameter levels between healthy individuals and patients with various gastrointestinal conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, and ileostomy patients.

Conclusions:

• The developed method allows for reliable ultrafiltration of stool specimens for clinical chemical analysis.
• Stool ultrafiltrate analysis provides valuable biochemical data that can aid in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders.
• This approach offers a promising tool for enhancing the diagnostic capabilities in gastroenterology.