Reference range(s)
The reference ranges listed below are valid on this date of January 15, 2025.
Component | Age | Male Norm | Male Critical Low | Male Critical High | Female Norm | Female Critical High | Female Critical Low | Units | Add'l info |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sodium, Fecal | ALL | mmol/L | A reference... Note1 | ||||||
Potassium, Fecal | ALL | mmol/L | A reference... Note1 | ||||||
Magnesium, Fecal | ALL | 0-110 | 0-110 | mg/dL | |||||
Calculated Osmolality | ALL | mOsm/kg | See report. | ||||||
Osmolality, Measured | ALL | mOsm/kg | 0-16 years: 271... Note2 | ||||||
Osmolal Gap | ALL | mOsm/kg | INTERPRETIVE... Note3 |
Note1:
A reference interval has not been established for fecal specimensTest developed and characteristics determined by ARUP Laboratories
See report..
Note2:
0-16 years: 271-296 mOsm/kg 17 years and older: 280-303 mOsm/kg Access complete set of age- and/or gender-specific reference intervals for this test in the ARUP Laboratory Test Directory (aruplab.com)See report..
Note3:
INTERPRETIVE INFORMATION: Normal fecal fluid has an osmolality close to that of plasma (i.e., 290 mOsm/kg), a sodium concentration of about 30 mmol/L, a potassium concentration of about 75 mmol/L, and a magnesium concentration between 12 to 240 mg/dL (depending on diet) although it is usually less than 110 mg/dL. A fecal sodium greater than 90 mmol/L and an osmolal gap less than 50 mOsm/kg suggest secretory diarrhea or osmotic diarrhea due to sodium-containing laxatives. A fecal sodium less than 60 mmol/L and an osmolal gap greater than 100 mOsm/kg suggest osmotic diarrhea. Fecal sodium greater than 150 mmol/L and osmolality greater than 400 mOsm/kg suggest contamination with concentrated urine. Fecal osmolality less than 250 mOsm/kg suggests contamination with hypoosmotic urine or water.See report..