STOOL ANALYSIS IN MODERN LABORATO- RIES: CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND TECH- NOLOGICAL ADVANCES

NTERNATIONAL LABORATORY MEDICINE SUMMIT ERZURUM 2025, Erzurum, Türkiye, 28 - 30 Ekim 2025, ss.38-39, (Özet Bildiri)

Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
Basıldığı Şehir: Erzurum
Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
Sayfa Sayıları: ss.38-39
Gazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Stool, the final product of digestion in the gastrointes-
tinal tract, is not merely a medium for the excretion

of metabolic waste but a rich biological specimen

containing valuable diagnostic information. Stool-
based biomarkers are increasingly recognized for

their role in the diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring

of infectious, inflammatory, malabsorptive, and neo-
plastic disorders, particularly those of gastrointestinal

origin. A key advantage of these biomarkers is their

ability to provide clinically relevant data without in-
vasive procedures, thereby improving patient com-
pliance and contributing to healthcare cost-effective-
ness. The Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), widely

used in clinical practice, is a major screening tool for
the early detection of colorectal cancer, adenomatous

polyps, and occult gastrointestinal bleeding. Its appli-
cation in asymptomatic individuals allows for early

intervention, potentially reducing mortality. Faecal

calprotectin demonstrates high sensitivity and spec-
ificity in differentiating inflammatory bowel disease

(IBD) from functional disorders such as irritable bow-
el syndrome (IBS); elevated levels indicate active in-
testinal inflammation. The faecal elastase test assess-
es exocrine pancreatic function, with reduced levelsobserved in chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, and

other forms of pancreatic insufficiency. Elevated fae-
cal alpha-1 antitrypsin is indicative of protein-losing

enteropathy. Measurement of reducing substances

and stool pH aids in diagnosing carbohydrate malab-
sorption, particularly in paediatric patients, with low

pH and increased sugar content supporting the diag-
nosis. Faecal fat analysis remains a “gold standard”

for confirming steatorrhea and quantifying fat malab-
sorption. Emerging biomarkers—including M2-py-
ruvate kinase, secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA),

short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), defensins, catheli-
cidins, osteoprotegerin, β-glucuronidase, and neutro-
phil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL)—show

promise for broader application in the diagnosis of

IBD, dysbiosis, malabsorption syndromes, and gas-
trointestinal tumors. With continued advancements

in analytical methodologies and bioinformatics, their
role in clinical diagnostic algorithms is expected to
expand substantially in the coming years.