Reproducibility of the fluorescein dilaurate pancreatic function test.

The indirect pancreatic function test, the fluorescein dilaurate test, was performed twice on nine healthy volunteers. The test is based on the renal excretion of fluorescein liberated from an ingested fluorescein ester by pancreatic enzymes. As a control, fluorescein sodium was ingested under similar conditions. The results of the test are expressed as the ratio of the amount of fluorescein excreted in the test part and the control part, forming the test/control (T/C) ratio. The mean values of excreted fluorescein correlated well with those reported by other authors. The coefficient of variation was 35% in the repeated test and of the same order in the series of individuals. The test cannot be recommended as a quantitative test until further investigation has been performed. Its use as a screening test is found questionable.