Login to South West London Pathology Services

If you have any queries about pathology consumables – you need a new account or you have a query about your order, please telephone 020 8266 6827. Forgotten your password

Faecal alpha 1 anti-trypsin

Category Immunology and PRU
Reporting frequency 7 working days

Additional information

Indications

Investigation of suspected protein losing enteropathy (PLE).

In protein losing enteropathy, serum proteins are lost into the gut. One way to assess this is to measure the concentration of alpha-1 antitrypsin in stool samples. Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a protease inhibitor, making it resistant to degradation by proteases in the stool sample.

Sample requirements

Random stool sample of at least 1g.

Samples should be frozen promptly and transported to our laboratory on dry ice. Alternatively a saline extract can be made, filtered, and transported to our laboratory at ambient temperature.

Method

A 1/10 saline extract is prepared of the stool sample and the filtered extract is analysed by rate nephelometry.

Reference range

0.00 – 0.48 mg/gww (grams wet weight of faeces)

Turnaround time

7 working days.

A faster turnaround time is possible for clinically urgent cases. Call the Immunology Consultants on 0208 725 5106 to arrange.

Postal address

Samples should be sent to:

Protein Reference Unit
South West London Pathology
St George’s Hospital
Blackshaw Road
Tooting
London SW17 OQT

For service or price enquiries, please contact the Immunology Manager, Aimee Rhodes, on 0208 725 1918 or email aimee.rhodes@nhs.net.

For any clinical queries, please contact the Immunology Consultants on 0208 725 5106 or email r.wheeler@nhs.net.

Lab Tests Online UK

Lab Tests Online - UK is a website written by practising laboratory doctors and scientists to help you understand the many clinical laboratory tests that are used in diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of disease.

Click here to go to Labtestsonline.org.uk

  • Search Tests

Latest news

October 11, 2023

Launch of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Alerts for primary care

In line with the national think kidneys acute kidney injury programme, led by NHS England, the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) alert system is being rolled out to cover patients in the community.

Read more
October 10, 2023

SWLP Training Team wins prestigious IBMS poster competition

At this year’s IBMS Congress, members of the SWLP Training Team won the poster competition in the education and training category.

Read more
September 21, 2023

Scopio digital platform introduced at Croydon Hospital for blood film morphology

A new digital platform called Scopio by Beckman Coulter has been introduced at Croydon Hospital for blood film morphology. The new platform can do a full field scan, which means that it is scanning the entire blood film, including feathery edge of the blood film, which is why it is able to look at almost all, if not all, cell types present on that particular film.

Read more
September 15, 2023

A day in the life… Denise Eck, Reception Supervisor

Find out about a day in the life of our Reception Supervisor at Croydon Hospital Denise Eck.

Read more