secretin stimulation test

Indications

• chronic pancreatitis

Reference interval

• > 15 meq of bicarbonate in 30 minutes
• > 80 meq/L in at least 1 specimen collected over 1 hour

* 1 meq = 1 mmol

Clinical significance

• although, the secretin stimulation test is the most sensitive test for diagnosing chronic pancreatitis, it is cumbersome, unpleasant & has fallen from favor

Procedure

• performed by intubating the duodenum & measuring the pancreatic secretion of bicarbonate in response to IV infusion of secretin 1.0 U/kg & or cholecystokinin
• 4.0-5.0 U/kg of secretin is used in the augmented secretin test

More general terms

• special chemistry test

Additional terms

• malabsorption
• secretin (SCT)

Components

• gastrin in serum post secretin stimulation