How It Is Done continued...

Take the sealed container to your doctor's office or the laboratory as soon as possible. You may need to deliver your sample to the lab within a certain time. Tell your doctor if you think you may have trouble getting the sample to the lab on time.

You may need to collect several stool samples over 7 to 10 days if you have digestive symptoms after traveling outside the country.

Samples from babies and young children may be collected from diapers (if the stool is not contaminated with urine) or from a small-diameter glass tube inserted into the baby's rectum while the baby is held on an adult's lap.

Sometimes a stool sample is collected using a rectal swab that contains a preservative. The swab is inserted into the rectum, rotated gently, and then withdrawn. It is placed in a clean, dry container and sent to the lab right away.

How It Feels

Collecting a stool sample does not normally cause any discomfort.

If your doctor collects the stool sample using a cotton swab, you may feel some pressure or discomfort as the cotton swab is inserted into your rectum.

Risks

There is no chance for problems while collecting a stool sample. Be sure to wear gloves when you collect the sample and wash your hands before and after you collect the sample. This will help protect you from spreading an infection.

Results

A stool culture is done to identify bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites that may be causing an infection. Stool culture test results usually take 2 to 3 days.

�

If bacteria are found in the culture, sensitivity testing may be done to help choose the best treatment.

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• Recent use of antibiotics, medicine (such as bismuth) to control diarrhea, enemas, or laxatives.
• Recent X-ray tests using a contrast material containing barium.
• A stool sample that is mixed with urine.
• Not collecting a large enough sample.
• Not getting the stool sample to the lab for testing quickly enough.

What To Think About

• A stool culture may be ordered if you have diarrhea and drank untreated well or lake water or have been traveling to a rural area or outside of the country.
• You may still have an infection even if your stool culture test is normal.
• Sensitivity testing helps your doctor choose the best treatment for the specific disease or infection.
• A stool sample may be tested for parasites such as pinworms, roundworms, tapeworms and the protozoan Giardia that causes giardiasis. The parasites or their eggs can often be seen during an examination of the stool sample under a microscope. For more information, see the topics Pinworms or Giardiasis.
• A stool sample can also be checked for:
  • White blood cells, which may be caused by diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease.
  • Blood, which may be caused by ulcers or cancer of the colon.
  • Poisonous substances (toxins) produced by some types of bacteria.
• A stool analysis is a series of tests done on a sample of stool to help diagnose certain conditions affecting the digestive tract, including infection, poor absorption, or cancer. For more information, see the topic Stool Analysis.