faecal fat test

Last reviewed 01/2018

Dietary fat is completely absorbed in the normal individual. Faecal fat is normally derived from enterocytes amounts to less than 18 mmol per day.

Accurately timed faecal samples should be collected over five consecutive days. The patient should consume 100 g of fat per day starting 48 hr before the test and continuing throughout.

The faecal fat test is unpleasant and has no diagnostic value in the patient with gross steatorrhoea.