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Acid steatocrit: a simple, rapid gravimetric method to determine steatorrhea
S T Amann1, S A Josephson, P P Toskes
1Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610-0214, USA.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
|December 17, 1997
Summary
The acid steatocrit test accurately detects steatorrhea using random stool samples. This rapid, quantitative method estimates fecal fat, improving clinical evaluation for fat malabsorption.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Clinical Chemistry
- Diagnostic Medicine
Background:
- Steatorrhea detection requires rapid, quantitative methods for clinical utility.
- Current methods for fecal fat assessment can be time-consuming or qualitative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the acid steatocrit method for detecting and quantifying steatorrhea using random stool samples.
- To compare the acid steatocrit method against traditional qualitative and quantitative fecal fat analyses.
Main Methods:
- Collected random spot stool samples from healthy controls and patients with pancreatic or small bowel disease.
- Performed qualitative, quantitative, and acid steatocrit analyses on all stool samples.
- Analyzed stool samples 72 hours after a standardized high-fat diet (100 g/day).
Main Results:
- The acid steatocrit method showed high correlation with 72-hour quantitative fecal fat (r=0.761, p<0.001).
- Acid steatocrit on random spot stools achieved 100% sensitivity and 95% specificity for steatorrhea detection.
- The method accurately estimated quantitative fecal fat levels.
Conclusions:
- The acid steatocrit test is accurate for detecting steatorrhea on random spot stools.
- This simplified assay provides rapid, quantitative fecal fat estimation using basic equipment.
- The acid steatocrit method offers a practical and clinically useful approach for diagnosing steatorrhea.
