Sodium - faeces
Last updated: Friday, 26, March, 2004
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| Item | Process |
|---|---|
| Specimen | 5 g liquid faeces. The test is of no value if faeces are solid. |
| Method | Flame photometry, ISE. |
| Reference Interval | <45 mmol/L. |
| Application | Differentiation of secretory from non-secretory diarrhoea. |
| Interpretation | Secretory diarrhoea (pancreatic islet cell tumour, cathartics, enterotoxins eg, cholera) result in liquid faeces with high sodium levels, typically 55-100 mmol/L. |
| Reference | Shiau Y-F et al. Ann Int Med 1985; 102: 773-775. |