Diagnosing exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

People who have chronic pancreatitis are often tested to see if they have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).  

The standard tests take a closer look at stool samples (also called fecal specimens or just plain poop studies). Stools are evaluated for:

• Fecal fat to check for malabsorption
• Pancreatic elastase to check for the enzyme that digests protein
• Stool pH to see if sugars are being broken down properly

If additional tests are needed, the following tests are likely:

• 3-day fat collection along with a diet diary
• Pancreatic stimulation test where samples are collected directly from the bile coming from the pancreas 

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