Steatocrit Explained

Steatocrit or acid steatocrit is a simple, rapid gravimetric method to determine steatorrhea. The test is simple, rapid, inexpensive, and reliable. It is a qualitative test that can be used when other methods are impractical.__TOC__

Elevated steatocrit

An elevated steatocrit is indicative of fat malabsorption resulting in steatorrhea. This generally results from pancreatic exocrine insufficiency but can also occur with severe small bowel disease i.e. celiac disease, liver diseases such as Primary Biliary Cirrhosis or medications that inhibit fat absorption such as orlistat.

See also

• Medical test
• Steatorrhea
• Stool tests
• Gastroenterology
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Malabsorption syndrome

References

• Phuapradit P, Narang A, Mendonca P, Harris DA, Baum JD . The steatocrit: a simple method for estimating stool fat content in newborn infants . Archives of Disease in Childhood . 56 . 9 . 725–7 . September 1981 . 7294875 . 1627297 . 10.1136/adc.56.9.725.
• Amann ST, Josephson SA, Toskes PP . Acid steatocrit: a simple, rapid gravimetric method to determine steatorrhea . The American Journal of Gastroenterology . 92 . 12 . 2280–4 . December 1997 . 9399770.
• Sugai E, Srur G, Vazquez H, etal . Steatocrit: a reliable semiquantitative method for detection of steatorrhea . Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology . 19 . 3 . 206–9 . October 1994 . 7806830 . 10.1097/00004836-199410000-00007.