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

Both feces and serum specimens are required.

It is preferred that both specimen types be collected on the same day, but up to 3 days apart is acceptable.

Patient Preparation:

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

2. The patient should not use:

 a. Antibiotics for 7 days before specimen collection

 b. Statins for 5 days before specimen collection

 c. Laxatives (particularly mineral oil and castor oil) for 3 days before or during specimen collection

 d. Bile acid sequestrants for 24 hours before specimen collection

 e. Synthetic fat substitutes (eg, Olestra) or fat-blocking nutritional supplements for 24 hours before specimen collection.

3. If the patient has used barium, it is recommended to wait at least 48 hours before collecting the feces specimen.

Specimen Type: Serum

Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)

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:

1. The patient may store specimen at refrigerate temperature during the collection period, but it should be frozen immediately after completion.

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