faecal elastase

FaecalElastase

Address: for Samples:

Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust,

Pathology Department, Dudley Road,

Birmingham, B18 7QH

Email:

Laboratory Tel: 0121 507 5345

Website:

The pancreas has both exocrine and endocrine functions. The exocrine function involves production and secretion of various enzymes essential for normal

digestion, including trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase, amylase and pancreatic elastase. Loss of exocrine pancreatic function leads to maldigestion and

malabsorption, and is seen in conditions such as chronic pancreatitis, coeliac disease, pancreatic cancer and cystic fibrosis.

Unlike other pancreatic enzymes, pancreatic elastase is stable during intestinal passage and can be detected in the faeces. Levels of faecal elastase have

been shown to correlate well with other direct and indirect tests of pancreatic function, and so the faecal elastase test is a simple, non-invasive test for the

investigation of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. The assay is highly specific for the human isoform, and it is not affected by previous gastrointestinal

surgery, gastric dysmotility or mucosal disease of the small intestine. Furthermore, pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy with pancreatin (e.g. Creon,

Pancrex, Nutrizyme, Pancrease) does not interfere with the faecal elastase measurement.

Our laboratory offers analysis of faecal elastase for the assessment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. We analyse samples from laboratories across the UK

and we also accept referrals from outside the UK. Our standard turn-around time is 3 working day and we are able to provide electronic reporting via email

or NPEx. For clinical advice and interpretation of results the laboratory can be contacted directly.