Specimen Collection
Must read essential information on collection, storage and transport -click on the link below
Disaccharidase collection information
Small bowel biopsy
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Do NOT place the biopsy on paper - this dries out the specimen and makes it unsuitable for analysis of enzymes.
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Reference Intervals
Units:
IU/g
Reference range:
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Lactase:
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2 - 8
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Maltase:
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8 - 40
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Sucrase:
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3 - 18
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Uncertainty of Measurement:
6%
If the biopsy contains submucosal material, all enzyme activities will be proportionately lowered.
Turnaround Time: Within 2 weeks
Assay Method
Principle:
End point colourimetric
Reagent:
In-house reagents
Analyser:
Indiko Plus
Diagnostic Use and Interpretation
Patients with a disaccharidase deficiency fail to absorb that specific disaccharide. The osmotic effect of the unabsorbed disaccharide increases fluid transfer into the gut lumen, causing abdominal discomfort and diarrhoea, the latter can be severe enough to cause volume depletion in infants.
Adult type hypolactasia- post weaning is the most common type of lactase deficiency. Secondary lactase deficiency from intestinal disorders like Crohns disease, coeliac disease, gut infection, thyroid/sex hormone imbalances is also commonly seen. Lactase deficiency associated with prematurity may resemble the congenital form, but usually disappears within a few days of birth. Congenital lactase deficiency is very rare, but will produce severe symptoms when the infant is fed milk.
See Lactase deficiency - genetic testing.
Sucrase and maltase deficiency usually coexist.
The test result is only useful if specific disaccharidase deficiencies are demonstrated; with at least one other disaccharidase showing normal activity. If the activity of all three are reduced proportionately, then either the specimen was unsuitable, or there is some other disorder which is generally effecting the mucosa in the region where the biopsy was taken from.
The reliability of this analysis is entirely dependent on a suitable biopsy specimen, which must include a reasonable sized sample of the mucosa. Specimen handling (see above) is also critical.
See Breath Hydrogen and Methane
Contact Information
Emails to
chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz
will receive priority attention from the on-call chemical pathologist.
If the query concerns a specific patient please include the NHI number in your email.
If email is not a suitable option, please contact the on-call chemical pathologist via
Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995).
Individual chemical pathologists may be contacted but will not be available at all times.
After-hours
: contact
Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995) or hospital operator for on duty staff after hours.
Dr Samarina Musaad
(Clinical Lead)
:
SamarinaM@adhb.govt.nz
ext. 22402
Dr Cam Kyle:
CampbellK@adhb.govt.nz
ext 22052
Dr Weldon Chiu:
WeldonC@adhb.govt.nz
ext. 23427
Dr Campbell Heron:
CHeron@adhb.govt.nz
ext. 23427
Dr Sakunthala Jayasinghe:
Sakunthala@adhb.govt.nz
ext. 23427
Specimen Transport Instructions for Referring Laboratories
Do NOT place the biopsy on paper - this dries out the specimen and makes it unsuitable for analysis of enzymes.
Must read essential information on collection, storage and transport -click on the link below
.
Disaccharidase collection information