Ordering Guidance

This test is for evaluation of bowel dysfunction.

For evaluation of hepatobiliary dysfunction, order BILEA / Bile Acids, Total, Serum.

For evaluation of patients treated with urso or cholate, order BAFS / Bile Acids, Fractionated and Total, Serum.

For evaluation of inborn errors of metabolism, order BAIPD / Bile Acids for Peroxisomal Disorders, Serum.

For confirmatory testing for bile acid malabsorption using a 48-hour fecal collection, order BA48F / Bile Acids, Bowel Dysfunction, 48 Hour, Feces

Shipping Instructions

Feces and serum should be shipped together. Specimens shipped separately may delay testing.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation:

1. For serum collection: Patient must fast for at least 12 hours prior to collection; fasting morning specimen is preferred.

2. Patient should not have recently taken antibiotics, bile acid sequestrants for 24 hours prior to collection, or statins for 5 days prior to collection.

3. No laxatives (particularly mineral oil and castor oil)

4. No synthetic fat substitutes (eg, Olestra) or fat-blocking nutritional supplements

5. Barium interferes with test procedure; if patient has used barium, it is recommended to wait 48 hours before starting the stool collection.

Both feces and serum are required.

Collection for both serum and feces should be completed on the same day, but up to 3 days apart is acceptable.

Specimen Type: Serum

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Centrifuge and aliquot 1 mL of serum into a plastic vial.

2. Send specimen frozen.

Specimen Type: Feces

Supplies: Stool Container, Small (Random), 4 oz (T288)

Container/Tube: Fecal container

Specimen Volume: 5 g

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect a loose, unpreserved, random fecal specimen.

2. Freeze immediately.

Additional Information: If additional tests are ordered, aliquot and separate sample prior to freezing to allow 1 container per test.