Alpha1-antitrypsin, faecal
Clinical Background:
Inflammatory bowel disease can lead to a protein-losing enteropathy resulting in increased loss of plasma proteins into the gut. Alpha-1 antitrypsin is protein which is relatively resistant to brea...
Inflammatory bowel disease can lead to a protein-losing enteropathy resulting in increased loss of plasma proteins into the gut. Alpha-1 antitrypsin is protein which is relatively resistant to breakdown by proteolytic enzymes found in the gut and may pass relatively unchanged into the faeces. Levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin in faeces may be used as a guide to the extent of protein loss into the gut, although some studies have shown a high frequency of false negative results. Nevertheless, a positive finding may be useful in confirming a diagnosis of protein-losing enteropathy and monitoring progress of the disease. A negative result does not exclude protein-losing enteropathy.
Test Details
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Discipline:
Biochemistry
Biochemistry
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Specimen Container Adult:
Faeces sample
Faeces sample
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Specimen Container Paediatric:
Faeces sample
Faeces sample
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Minimum Volume Adult:
10g faeces
10g faeces
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Minimum Volume Paediatric:
10g faeces
10g faeces
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Special Requirement:
Ward: send to the laboratory within 1 hour of sample collection
External laboratories: send frozen to the laboratory
Ward: send to the laboratory within 1 hour of sample collection
External laboratories: send frozen to the laboratory
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Transport Requirements:
Must be transported on dry ice and sent early in the week
Must be transported on dry ice and sent early in the week
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Reference Ranges:
0 - 0.48 mg/g wet weight
(0.35 - 0.48 mg/g is borderline)
0 - 0.48 mg/g wet weight
(0.35 - 0.48 mg/g is borderline)
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Routine Contact Name:
Duty Biochemist
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Routine Telephone:
Freeman: 0191 244 8889
RVI: 0191 282 9719Freeman: 0191 244 8889
RVI: 0191 282 9719 -
Routine Email: