WEEK 11: Fecalysis

• What are the three main components of fecal examination?

  Macroscopic, microscopic, and chemical analysis
• What is the purpose of chemical analysis in fecal examination?

  To detect GI malignancies, liver disorders, and causes of diarrhea
• What is human feces commonly referred to as?

  Stool
• What does the term "scatology" refer to?

  The study of feces
• What is meconium?

  Newborn's first feces
• What causes the strong odor and flatus in feces?

  Bacterial metabolism
• What is the major site for the final breakdown and reabsorption of compounds?

  Small intestine
• What digestive enzymes are mentioned in the study material?

  Trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase, and aminopeptidase
• What defines diarrhea in terms of stool weight?

  Increase daily stool above 200g
• What are the classifications of diarrhea?

  Illness duration, mechanism, severity, and stool characteristics
• What is secretory diarrhea primarily caused by?

  Bacterial, viral, and protozoan infections
• How does secretory diarrhea affect the large intestine?

  It produces increased secretion of water and electrolytes
• What are the characteristics of stools in secretory diarrhea?

  Watery and voluminous with no RBC, WBC, or mucus
• What is the causative agent of secretory diarrhea mentioned in the material?

  Vibrio cholerae
• What characterizes invasive diarrhea?

  Destruction of the mucosal lining of the intestines
• What symptoms are associated with invasive diarrhea?

  Presence of pus, blood, and mucus in stool
• What is osmotic diarrhea caused by?

  Incomplete breakdown or reabsorption of food
• What stool characteristics are associated with osmotic diarrhea?

  Watery and gaseous with no WBC, RBC, or mucus
• What causes steatorrhea?

  Increase fat in stool due to absence of bile salts
• What is the D-Xylose test used for?

  To distinguish steatorrhea in maldigestion and malabsorption conditions
• What does a normal D-xylose test indicate?

  Indicates pancreatitis
• What type of container is required for specimen collection?

  A clean, non-breakable, leakproof container
• How much specimen is required for fecal occult blood testing?

  Only a small specimen is required
• What is the normal color of feces?

  Brown
• What does pale color in feces signify?

  Biliary obstruction
• What does the presence of black stools indicate?

  Upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding (melena)
• What are the characteristics of formed stools?

  Normal consistency and shape
• What does a foul odor in feces indicate?

  Degradation of undigested protein and excessive carbohydrate intake
• What is the purpose of the fecal occult blood test?

  To detect hidden blood in the stool
• What dietary restrictions are recommended before a fecal occult blood test?

  Avoid red meat, horse radish, melons, and raw broccoli
• What can cause a false positive reaction in fecal occult blood tests?

  NSAIDs and contamination of menstrual blood
• What is the Hemoccult ICT test specific for?

  Globin portion of human hemoglobin
• What does the APT test determine?

  If the infant’s stool or vomitus is fetal or maternal in origin
• What does a pink result in the APT test indicate?

  Fetal blood is unchanged
• What is the method used for quantitative fecal fat testing?

  Van de Kamer titration
• What do fecal WBCs indicate?

  Presence of bacterial dysentery and ulcerative colitis
• What does the presence of muscle fibers in stool signify?

  Pancreatic insufficiency
• What is the significance of counting striated muscle fibers in stool?

  More than ten per slide is significant
• What types of fats are analyzed in qualitative fecal fat testing?

  Neutral fat, fatty acid salts, fatty acid, and cholesterol
• What is the significance of >60 droplets/HPF in neutral fat stain?

  It is significant for steatorrhea