Test Catalog

Test Id : NITF

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Nitrogen, Total, Feces

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Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Determining nitrogen balance, when used in conjunction with 24-hour urine nitrogen measurement

 

Assessing nutritional status (protein malnutrition)

 

Evaluating protein catabolism

Genetics Test Information
Provides information that may help with selection of the correct genetic test or proper submission of the test request

       

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Dumas Combustion

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

Nitrogen, Total, F

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

Nitrogen Balance

Nitrogen, Total, 48- or 72-Hours, Feces

Nitrogen, Total, 48/72/96-Hr, Feces

Fecal Nitrogen

NITF

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Fecal

Shipping Instructions

Send entire stool collection (must contain at least 5 g of feces) frozen on dry ice in Mayo Clinic Laboratories-approved container.

Necessary Information

Length of collection period is required.

ORDER QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question ID Description Answers
DUR9 Collection Duration

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Patient Preparation: Laxatives and enemas should not be used during collection as barium and boric acid interfere with test procedure.

Supplies: Stool Containers - 24, 48, 72 Hour Kit (T291)

Container/Tube: Stool container; complies with shipping requirements, do not use other containers.

Specimen Volume: Entire collection (24, 48, 72, or 96 hours)

Collection Instructions:

1. All containers must be sent together.

2. Entire collection must contain at least 5 g of feces.

3. The number of containers sent should be indicated on the labels (ie, 1 of 4)

Specimen Stability Information: Frozen 3 years

Additional Information: Patient can store sample at refrigerate temperature during collection period.

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the testing laboratory. The minimum volume is sufficient for one attempt at testing.

See Specimen Required

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Urine and stool mixed Reject

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Fecal Frozen (preferred)
Ambient 7 days
Refrigerated 7 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Determining nitrogen balance, when used in conjunction with 24-hour urine nitrogen measurement

 

Assessing nutritional status (protein malnutrition)

 

Evaluating protein catabolism

Genetics Test Information
Provides information that may help with selection of the correct genetic test or proper submission of the test request

       

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Nitrogen is a key component of proteins. Nitrogen balance is the difference between the amount of nitrogen ingested and the amount excreted in the urine and feces. A majority of nitrogen is excreted as urea in the urine; however, fecal nitrogen can account for 30% to 50% of total nitrogen excretion.

 

A patient who is in negative nitrogen balance is catabolizing muscle protein to meet the metabolic requirements of protein catabolism; therefore, urine and fecal nitrogen concentrations may be increased due to stress, physical trauma, surgery, infections, burns, and 11-oxysteroid or thyroxine use. Testosterone and growth hormone have anabolic effects on protein synthesis and may decrease urine and fecal nitrogen levels.

 

In the course of chronic progressive pancreatitis, as the pancreas is destroyed, serum amylase and lipase may revert to normal. However, excessive fecal nitrogen levels persist and are used as an indicator of pancreatic atrophy.

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

<16 years: Not established

> or =16 years: 1-2 g/24 hours

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

Average fecal nitrogen (N) excretion is approximately 1 to 2 g N/24 hours.

 

Significantly abnormal excretion rates, resulting in negative nitrogen balance, may be associated with severe stress due to multiple traumas, head injury, sepsis, or extensive burns.

 

Elevated values above 2.5 g N/24 hours may be consistent with chronic progressive pancreatitis. The goal with therapy for a depleted person is a positive nitrogen balance of 4 to 6 g N/24 hours.

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

Measurement of both urine and fecal nitrogen is necessary for the accurate determination of nitrogen balance.

 

During nitrogen balance studies, nitrogen lost from exuding wounds, such as burns, and from copious sputum must be included in the patient's evaluation.

 

Fecal samples with visible blood may exhibit a positive bias for nitrogen due to the contribution of nitrogens present within hemoglobin.

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Morse MH, Haub MD, Evans WJ, Campbell WW. Protein requirement of elderly women: nitrogen balance responses to three levels of protein intake. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2001;56(11):M724-730

2. Phinney SD. The assessment of protein nutrition in the hospitalized patient. Clin Lab Med. 1981;1:767-774

3. Konstantinides FN, Kostantinides NN, Li JC, Myaya ME, Cerra FB. Urinary urea nitrogen: too insensitive for calculating nitrogen balance studies in surgical clinical nutrition. J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 1991;15(2):189-193

4. Borowitz D, Konstan MW, O'Rourke A, Cohen M, Hendeles L, Murray FT. Coefficients of fat and nitrogen absorption in healthy subjects and individuals with cystic fibrosis. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2007;12(1):47-52. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-12.1.47

5. Dickerson RN. Nitrogen balance and protein requirements for critically ill older patients. Nutrients. 2016;8(4):226. doi:10.3390/nu8040226

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

The nitrogen analyzer utilizes the Dumas combustion method of determining total nitrogen in feces.(Unpublished Mayo method)

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Friday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

1 to 8 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

7 days

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their account representative. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

84999

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
NITF Nitrogen, Total, F 16141-4
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
DUR9 Collection Duration 13363-7
17416 Total Weight 30078-0
17417 Nitrogen, Total, F 16141-4

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports