AIM To compare two tests for exocrine pancreatic function(EPF) for use in M-ANNHEIM staging for pancreatitis. METHODS One hundred and ninety four consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis(AP; n = 13), recurrent acute pancreatitis(RAP; n = 65) and chronic pancreatitis(CP; n = 116) were enrolled. EPF was assessed by faecal elastase-1(FE-1) estimation and stool fat excretion by the acid steatocrit method. Patients were classified as per M-ANNHEIM stages separately based on the results of the two tests for comparison. Independent Student’s t-test, χ~2 test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test and Mc Nemar’s test were used as appropriate. RESULTS Sixty-one(52.5%) patients with CP had steatorrhoea when assessed by the acid steatocrit method; 79 (68.1%) with CP had exocrine insufficiency by the FE-1 test(χ~2 test, P < 0.001). The results of acid steatocrit and FE-1 showed a significant negative correlation(Spearman’s rho =-0.376, P < 0.001). A statistically significant difference was seen between the M-ANNHEIM stages as classified separately by acid steatocrit and the FE-1. Thirteen(6.7%), 87(44.8%), 89(45.8%) and 5(2.5%) patients were placed in M-ANNHEIM stages 0,?Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ respectively, with the use of acid steatocrit as against 13(6.7%), 85(43.8%), 75(38.6%), and 21(10.8%) respectively by FE-1 in stages 0,?Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ thereby altering the stage in 28(14.4%) patients(P < 0.001, Mc Nemar’s test). CONCLUSION FE-1 estimation performed better than the acid steatocrit test for use in the staging of pancreatitis by the M-ANNHEIM classification since it diagnosed a higher proportion of patients with exocrine insufficiency. METHODS One hundred and ninety four consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis (AP; n = 13), recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP; n = 65 (CP-n = 116) were enrolled. EPF was assessed by faecal elastase-1 (FE-1) estimation and stool fat excretion by the acid steatocrit method. Patients were classified as per M-ANNHEIM steps separately based on RESULTS Sixty-one patients were randomized to either of the two tests for comparison. RESULTS Sixty-one (52.5%) patients with CP had steatorrhoea when assessed by the acid steatocrit method; 79 (68.1%) with CP had exocrine insufficiency by the FE-1 test (χ ~ 2 test, P <0.001). The results of acid steatocrit and FE-1 showed a significant negative correlation (Spearman’s rho = -0.376, P <0.001). A statistically significant difference wa Threes (6.7%), 87 (44.8%), 89 (45.8%) and 5 (2.5%) patients were placed in M-ANNHEIM stages 0,? I, II and III respectively, with the use of acid steatocrit as against 13 (6.7%), 85 (43.8%), 75 (38.6%) and 21 (10.8%) respectively by FE-1 in CONCLUSION FE-1 estimation performed better than the acid steatocrit test for use in the staging of pancreatitis (P <0.001, Mc Nemar’s test) by the M-ANNHEIM classification since it diagnosed a higher proportion of patients with exocrine insufficiency.