Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 48

In the Van de Kamer method for quantitative fecal fat determinations, fecal lipids are:

A. Converted to fatty acids prior to titrating with sodium hydroxide

B. Homogenized and titrated to a neutral endpoint with sodium hydroxide

C. Measured gravimetrically after washing

D. Measured by spectrophotometer after addition of Sudan III

Step 1 of 2

Quantitative fecal fat testing:

• This test confirms the steatorrhea

• Van de Kamer titration is a frequently used method for analysis of fecal fat

• This method converts the lipids in the stool to fatty acids

• Then by using sodium hydroxide the specimen is titrated until reaching the neutral end point

• About 80% of the total content of the fatcan be measured using Van de Kamer titration

Therefore, to find the quantitative fecal fat using Van de Kamer method, lipids in the feces are “converted to fatty acids prior to titration with the sodium hydroxide”. Hence, the correct answer is option .