ABSTRACT

The major objective o f this work was to establish the assay o f faecal elastase I in spot stool samples as an exocrine pancreatic function test for the Korle-Bu teaching hospital. The assay o f faecal elastase I was carried out in spot stool samples from apparently healthy persons and subjects with various pancreatic and non pancreatic diseases. The result obtained confirmed the diagnostic efficiency o f pancreatic elastase 1 determination in stool as a standard test o f exocrine pancreatic function.

The results o f the faecal elastase 1 test were able to characterise the degree o f severity of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency into, (1 ) the mild to moderate group with elastase concentration between 100 and 200 (ig/g stool and ( 2 ) the severe pancreatic insufficiency group with elastase concentration o f