Bile Acid Stimulation Test

Liver function testing

Serum 2x 0.5 ml

• First serum sample = value after fasting (10 hours)
• Feeding of 100 g meat plus 5 g fat/10 kg bdw
• Second serum sample 2 hours after feeding = post prandial value

Bile acids

Photometry

Dog, cat

Reporting of results on the day the sample is received (Mon–Sat)

Elevated concentrations of serum bile acids (pre- and/or postprandial) are associated with liver dysfunction or a portosystemic shunt. However, concentrations below 80–100 μmol/l are also seen in other diseases (e.g. Cushing’s syndrome, chronic enteropathy) and should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Post-hepatic cholestasis (bile duct obstruction/rupture) also causes an increase in bile acid concentration in the blood.