amount of feces normally passed each day

digests and absorbs foodstuffs

absorbs water, sodium and chloride

an increase in volume, liquidity, and frequency of bowel movements compared with individual's normal pattern

increased solute secretions by intestine draws water and electrolytes into intestine

increased osmotically active solutes draw water and electrolytes into intestine

decreases time available for absorption; can occur alone or with secretory or osmotic

secretory causes

osmotic causes

inability to convert foodstuffs into readily abailable absorbable substances

normal digestive ability, but inadequate intestinal absorption of already processed foodstuffs

intestinal hypermotility causes

fecal fat excretion greater than 7g/day

feces are pale, greasy, spongy, or pasty and very foul smelling

should be avoided in specimen collection

cause normal brown color of stool

normal consistency and form

not normally present in feces; associated with many conditions

causes normal odor

not normally present; smallest amount indicates invasive or inflammatory condition of intestinal wall

protein present in activated neutrophils; detected through immuno-based tests

qualitative orange-red staining of neutral fats with Sudan 3 or 4 or oil red O; detects total fats

can be seen on fecal fat slides; increase is abnormal

small amount in feces and is not visualy apparent; any increase is always significant

increased active solutes draw water and electrolytes into intestine

can indicate bleeding in the lower GI tract

can indicate bleeding in upper GI tract

based on pseudoperoxidase activity of hemoglobin resulting in color change

based on reaction of polyclonal antihuman antibodies to globin portion of undegraded hemoglobin

based on chemical conversion of heme to fluorescent porphyrins

used to differentiate between fetal and maternal blood in newborn's stool; qualitative based on alkaline resistance of fetal hemoglobin

definitive test for steatorrhea