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Pancreatic elastase

Service
Test Background

Elastase is unaffected by intestinal passage, so faecal concentrations (which are 5-fold greater than in pancreatic juice) more accurately reflect the amount of enzyme secreted from the pancreas and consequently serve as a means of assessing pancreatic function.

Clinical Indications

Investigation of malabsorption due to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

Reference Range

See report

Sample volume
5g
Turnaround time
Up to 6 weeks
Sample & Container Required
Faecal sample in universal container
Notes

Not currently performed in house; this is a referred test. Can get transient low values during enteric viral infection, suggest repeat in 2 weeks.

Record last updated
August 26, 2025

Sample Container

30ml Universal Container with Spoon – Stool (Blue top)

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Test Results

Yes, we have a Pathology User Guide

Yes. Please email your request to Imperial.nwlpcustomerservice@nhs.net

Results are communicated to clinical staff and are normally not communicated direct to patients either on telephone requests or in written report. If you need to contact us please click here to view the contact details page

Please contact the Customer Service Team Monday to Friday from 8:30am – 6:00pm on 0203 313 5353. Alternatively, see the Pathology User Guide for how to contact the relevant department. If advice is not urgent you can also email your query to Imperial.nwlpcustomerservice@nhs.net

Additional tests may be added by discussion with the relevant laboratory. The time limit for adding additional tests to a sample already received in the laboratory will depend on the type of sample and the department it was sent to.

Information on the repertoire of tests performed by pathology, including reference ranges, turnaround times and specimen requirements, can be found in the test directory.

NWLP operates UKAS accredited medical laboratories as per the references below. The current scope of accreditation for all NWLP’s laboratories can be found on the UKAS website.

See the following UKAS ref numbers:

  • Clinical Biochemistry Ref: 8673
  • Haematology and Blood Transfusion Ref: 8674
  • Infection & Immunity Sciences (Including Immunology, Virology, Microbiology and Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics ) Ref: 8659
  • Cellular Pathology (Including Histopathology, Cytology and Molecular Pathology) Ref: 9615

If you require copies of our certificate of accreditation and associated documentation please contact Imperial.nwlpcustomerservice@nhs.net.

UKAS requires the laboratories to be accredited for a particular repertoire/scope (ISO15189), any changes or additions to repertoire require assessment by UKAS (extension to scope).

The BD Hospital Tube GuideBD GP Tube Guide and BD Paediatric Tube Guide provide visual references to the correct tube types and collection instructions.

Home testing

INSTRUCTION SHEET FOR BLOOD SAMPLE COLLECTION 

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VIDEO ON BLOOD SAMPLE COLLECTION (without subtitles)

VIDEO ON BLOOD SAMPLE COLLECTION (with subtitles)

Our accreditations

Upholding excellence in diagnostic standards

Our laboratories are accredited by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) against the international standard ISO15189:2022. UKAS is the accreditation body for the UK that assesses medical laboratories.

Find out more about our accreditations on the UKAS website.

UKAS website
Man in the lab handling a sample