pH, Stool (SPH) | | | |
EPIC Test Name
PH, STOOLEPIC Code
LAB109Specimen Requirements
fresh liquid stool |
---|
Minimum Volume: | 1g |
Transport: | Room Temperature ASAP |
Stability: | Room Temperature: 1 day at 20-25 degrees C
Refrigerated: 7 days at 2-8 degrees C |
Container: | stool container or urine cup |
Rejection Causes: | Formed stool |
Methods
Hydrogen in concentrationTurnaround Time
Specimen | Turnaround Time | Frequency |
---|
fresh liquid stool | 2 days | daily |
Reference Ranges
Hydrogen in concentration
Clinical Indications
For patients with carbohydrate malabsorption, unhydrolyzed disaccharides are fermented by the bacteria in the intestine producing gas and lactic acid. Normally, the stool specimen is usually neutral to alkaline. A pH less than or equal to 5.5 indicates an acidic feces suggesting carbohydrate malabsorption, e.g., lactose intolerance. Carbohydrate malabsorption can lead to watery diarrhea causing dehydration and acidosis.Additional Information
Stool reducing sugars and stool pH should not be used as screening tests for carbohydrate malabsorption due to disaccharidase deficiencies in pediatric patients.Interpretative Information
A pH less than or equal to 5.5 indicates an acidic feces suggesting carbohydrate malabsorption.References
1. Eherer AJ, Fordtran JS. Fecal osmotic gap and pH in experimental diarrhea of various causes. Gastroenterology. 1992;103:545-51. doi: 10.1016/0016-5085(92)90845-p. PMID: 1634072.
2. Erickson JA, Case K, Neider C, Johnson LM. Stool Reducing Sugars and Stool pH Are Poor Screening Tests for Intestinal Disaccharidase Deficiencies in Children. J Appl Lab Med. 2020;5:257-62. doi: 10.1093/jalm/jfz017. PMID: 32445391.Contact Information
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