Testing for fecal reducing substances (carbohydrates) aides in determining the underlying cause of diarrhea. Elevations in fecal reducing substances helps distinguish between osmotic diarrhea caused by abnormal excretion of various sugars as opposed to di
Clinical Significance
Stool reducing sugars may be helpful for children with short bowel syndrome to evaluate the relationship between dietary sugar ingestion and diarrhea.
Methodology
Benedict's method
Reference Range
Negative
Interpretation
A positive stool reducing sugars result is potentially due to a primary cause, such as a rare inborn error of metabolism (i.e., disaccharidase deficiency or monosaccharide transporter deficiency). Additionally, secondary, or acquired, causes may be due to
Specimen and Specimen Volume
NA
Transport Container
Sterile Container
Specimen Stability (Ambient)
24 Hrs
Specimen Stability (2-8°C)
NA
Specimen Stability (-20°C)
NA
Collection Instruction
Urinate before starting. Place something in the toilet to catch the stool, such as a plastic potty or an empty plastic food container, or spread clean newspaper or plastic wrap over the rim of the toilet. Make sure the stool doesn't touch the inside of the toilet. Use a clean spoon or spatula to collect the stool, then screw the lid shut. Aim to fill around a third of the container. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm running water.
Using a diaper:
1. If the stool is firm, use plastic wrap to line the diaper. The wrap should be placed so the urine runs into the diaper, not the wrap.
2. Use a spoon/spatula to scrape stoop from a dirty diaper.
Rejection Criteria
Improperly labelled specimen, specimen contaminated with urine and/or water, leaking container, specimen containing interfering substances such as castor oil, bismuth, Metamucil, barium, Vaseline, or other cream contaminants. Mislabelled or Unlabelled spe