Many microscopic organisms living in the intestines are necessary for normal digestion. If the intestines become infected with harmful bacteria or parasites, though, it can cause problems like certain types of bloody diarrhea, and testing stool can help find the cause.
Stool samples are also sometimes analyzed for what they contain; for instance, examining the fat content. Normally, fat is completely absorbed from the intestine, and the stool contains virtually no fat. In certain types of digestive disorders, however, fat is incompletely absorbed and remains in the stool.
Unlike most other lab tests, stool is sometimes collected by the child's family at home, not by a health care professional. Here are some tips for collecting a stool specimen:. The stool should be collected into clean, dry plastic jars with screw-cap lids. You can get these from your doctor or through hospital laboratories or pharmacies, although any clean, sealable container could do the job.
For best results, the stool should then be brought to the laboratory immediately. If the stool specimen is going to be examined for an infection, and it's impossible to get the sample to the laboratory right away, the stool should be refrigerated, then taken to the laboratory to be cultured as soon as possible after collection.
When the sample arrives at the lab, it is either examined and cultured immediately or placed in a special liquid medium that attempts to preserve potential bacteria or parasites. The doctor or the hospital laboratory will usually provide written instructions on how to successfully collect a stool sample; if written instructions are not provided, take notes on how to collect the sample and what to do once you've collected it.
If you have any questions about how to collect the specimen, be sure to ask. The doctor or the lab will also let you know if a fresh stool sample is needed for a particular test, and if it will need to be brought to the laboratory right away. You have to label and seal all the stool samples and return it to your healthcare provider.
Usually, the treatment involves a combination of certain drugs and antibiotics, such as histamine receptor blockers, proton pump inhibitors and Pepto Bismol, generally taken for several weeks, which reduces the amount of stomach acid produced in your stomach. The healthcare provider will provide you with a stool DNA test kit to collect and submit the sample.
The test kit includes a container and a preservative solution. You need to attach the container to the toilet and add the solution to the stool sample before returning it to the lab. Unlike the faecal occult blood test, you need to collect and submit only one sample.
A positive H. Pylori test indicates that the symptoms that you have experienced were due to peptic ulcer caused by H. Pylori bacteria. A negative H. Pylori infection. Certain medications and foods may affect your guaiac smear method results. Your doctor may ask you to avoid Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen one week before the test. You may also be asked to avoid taking Vitamin C more than mg per day, from fruits, fruit juices or supplements for one week before the test as well as red meat, including pork, beef and lamb three days before the test.
Types of Stool Tests Ova and Parasites Test Your doctor may order an ova and parasites test to check parasites or ova egg in your stool sample. Bacteria in the stool that may cause an infection are: Entamoeba histolytica Giardia Cryptosporidium The test may also detect: Dientamoeba fragilis Balantidium coli Cyclospora cayetanensis Roundworms Flatworms Hookworms tapeworms White Blood Cell Test This test is often used to detect leukocytes or White Blood Cells in your stool sample.
Your doctor may order this test if you experience any of the symptoms such as: Mucus or blood in the stool Watery diarrhoea that lasts for more than four days Fever Abdominal pain Fatigue The healthcare provider will provide you with a special container to collect your stool sample. Pylori Antigen Test H. Pylori may cause gastrointestinal disorders such as Peptic ulcers a condition characterised by sores in the oesophagus, small intestine or stomach Gastritis inflammation of the stomach Or certain types of stomach cancer The test is often used to Detect H.
Current as of: September 23, Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
Top of the page. Test Overview A stool culture is a test on a stool sample to find germs such as bacteria or a fungus that can cause an infection. It can help explain symptoms such as severe or bloody diarrhea or an increased amount of gas. It can also help find the cause of nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, bloating, belly pain and cramping, and fever.
Find and identify certain types of organisms that are causing infections or diseases. These include a food-borne illness , inflammation of the large intestine colitis , cholera , and typhoid. Identify a person who may not have any symptoms of disease but who carries bacteria that can spread infection to others.
This person is called a carrier. A person who is a carrier and who handles food is likely to infect others. Find out if treatment for an infection has worked as it should.
How To Prepare You do not need to do anything special to prepare for this test. How It Is Done Stool samples can be collected at home. To collect the sample: Urinate before you collect the stool. That way, you won't get any urine in the stool sample. Do not urinate while you pass the stool. Put on gloves before handling your stool. Stool can contain germs that spread infection. Wash your hands after you take off your gloves. You may need to take your sample to the lab within a certain time, usually within 30 minutes or less of collecting it.
Tell your doctor if you think you may have trouble getting the sample to the lab on time. Samples from babies and young children may be taken from diapers if the stool does not have urine mixed with it. Or a narrow tube may be put into the baby's rectum while you hold the baby on your lap. Sometimes a stool sample is collected using a rectal swab.
The swab is inserted into the rectum, rotated gently, and then pulled out. It is placed in a clean, dry container and sent to the lab right away. There is no pain from collecting a stool sample. If you are constipated, straining to pass stool may be painful. If your doctor collects the stool sample using a cotton swab, you may feel some pressure or discomfort as the swab is inserted into your rectum. Any stool sample may contain germs that can spread disease. Make sure to carefully wash your hands and use careful handling techniques to avoid spreading infection.
Stool culture test results usually take 2 to 3 days. But some cultures for fungus and parasites may take weeks to get results. Bacteria such as salmonella , shigella, or certain types of E. Fungi such as yeast are found in the stool. If bacteria are found in the culture, sensitivity testing may be done to help choose the best treatment. Your stool also may be looked at under a microscope to check for parasites such as Giardia. Gabica MD - Family Medicine. Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.
Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
0コメント