Stool cultures

A stool test involves the collection and analysis of fecal matter to diagnose the presence or absence of a medical condition.

The patient and/or health care worker in the office or at the bedside is able to make some important observations.

One of the most common stool tests, the fecal occult blood test can be used to diagnose many conditions that cause bleeding in the gastrointestinal system including colorectal cancer or stomach cancer.

Parasitic diseases such as ascariasis, hookworm, strongyloidiasis and whipworm can be diagnosed by examining stools under a microscope for the presence of worm larvae or eggs. Some bacterial diseases can be detected with a stool culture. Toxins from bacteria such as Clostridium difficile ('C. diff.') can also be identified. Viruses such as rotavirus can also be found in stools.

A fecal pH test may be used to determine lactose intolerance or the presence of an infection.Steatorrhea can be diagnosed using a Fecal fat test that checks for the malabsorption of fat.

Faecal elastase levels are becoming the mainstay of pancreatitis diagnosis.

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