What does a stool culture check for?
A stool culture helps the doctor see if there’s a bacterial infection in the intestines. A technician places small stool samples in sterile plastic dishes with nutrients that encourage the growth of certain bacteria. The targeted bacteria will only grow if they’re already in the stool sample.
How is a stool culture performed?
How a Fecal Culture Is Performed. A stool sample is typically collected using a piece of wax paper spread across your toilet bowl. It should be held in place by your toilet seat. Once you’ve collected a sample of your stool on the wax paper, place it in the container provided and give it to your doctor.
Why do doctors ask for a stool sample?
If you’ve been having stomach problems, your doctor might order a stool culture or ask for a stool sample. This test can look in your poop for bacteria, a virus, or other germs that might be making you sick.
When should I order a stool culture?
A stool culture may be ordered when someone has signs and symptoms of an infection of the digestive tract, such as: Diarrhea that lasts more than a few days and may contain blood and/or mucus. Abdominal pain and cramping. Nausea, vomiting.
Can you detect H pylori in stool?
Stool tests. The most common stool test to detect H. pylori is called a stool antigen test that looks for foreign proteins (antigens) associated with H. pylori infection in your stool.
What does a normal stool culture test mean?
A normal stool culture test implies that no infectious or harmful bacteria, fungi or other organisms grew or were present in the sample. A normal result indicates that the test was negative. An abnormal result means the test was positive and that the stool culture showed the presence or growth of infectious bacteria.
How is a stool culture used to diagnose a GI infection?
Since there are many causes of GI infections, a stool culture may be used in conjunction with other tests, such as a GI pathogens panel or an ova and parasite exam (O&P) to help establish a diagnosis.
When do you need a stool culture and an O&P?
A stool culture and an O&P may be done if a microbe is not identified by the panel and/or there is a suspicion of bacteria or parasites other than those included in the GI panel. Many GI infections in the U.S. resolve with no specific treatment, with only supportive care, and may not require testing.
How long does it take to get results from a stool culture?
Stool culture test results usually take 2 to 3 days. But some cultures for fungus and parasites may take weeks to get results. No disease-causing bacteria, fungi, parasites, or viruses are present or grow in the culture. Bacteria (such as salmonella, shigella, or certain types of E. coli) grow in the culture.