What is Stool Routine?

A stool test involves the analysis of fecal matter to diagnose a medical condition generally related to a problem in the stomach, intestines, or another part of the gastrointestinal system. It may also be done to screen for gastrointestinal bleeding, which may be an indicator of colon cancer.

Why Get Tested?

Various Stool Tests may be done for different conditions.
The most commonly used stool tests are as follows:

Blood in the stool: This is done to check for blood that may be visible in the stool. It could be due to a rectal tear which may be caused by straining against a hard stool.

Microbiology tests: These tests are conducted by examining stools using a microscope for any presence of worm larvae or eggs which cause diseases such as Hookworm, Whipworm, Ascariasis, and Strongyloidiasis.

fecal occult blood test (FOBT): A fecal occult blood test (FOBT) is conducted to check for hidden blood in the stool. This could be caused by infectious diarrhea, bleeding within the gastrointestinal tract, and certain other conditions.

Chemical tests: Human feces are normally alkaline and an acidic stool can indicate digestive problems such as lactose intolerance or a contagion such as E. coli or Rotavirus. The fecal pH test is conducted wherein a sample of feces is tested for acidity to identify a medical condition.

Reason To Take Stool Routine

People showing signs & symptoms of gastrointestinal infection and having digestive complaints. Infections to the gastrointestinal tract can lead to uneasy and potentially dangerous symptoms.

These symptoms can include: Abdominal pain and cramping Severe diarrhea that could last for several days and could be bloody in nature Fever Nausea and vomiting

Preparations Needed For Stool Routine

No special preparation is required.

Sample Required?

The stool specimen should be passed directly into the clean stool container provided and must be returned to the lab within 1 hour of collection.