A stool culture is done to identify bacteria or viruses that may be causing an infection. Although more than 50 different kinds of bacteria normally live in the intestines, large numbers of abnormal bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites can grow in the intestines and cause infections and diseases.
For a stool culture, a stool sample is collected in a clean container and placed under conditions that allow bacteria or other organisms to grow. The type of infection is identified by noting the appearance of the growth, by performing chemical tests on the stool sample, and by looking at the sample under a microscope.
Depending on what your stool is being tested for, you may only need to collect one stool sample, or you may need several stool samples over a period of days.
Why It Is Done
A stool culture is done to:
How To Prepare
No special preparation is required before having this test. Tell your doctor if you have recently taken antibiotics, traveled out of the country, or had a recent test with contrast material, such as a barium swallow or a barium enema.
Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).
How It Is Done
Stool samples can be collected at home, in your doctor's office, at a medical clinic, or at the hospital. If you collect the samples at home, you may be given a special container.
You may need to collect more than one sample. Follow the same procedure for each sample.
Collect the sample as follows:
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 The swab is inserted into the rectum, rotated gently, and then withdrawn.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.
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.
A stool culture is done to identify bacteria, viruses, or fungi that may be causing an infection. Stool culture test results usually take 2 to 3 days. But some cultures for fungus may take weeks to get results.
If bacteria are found in the culture, sensitivity testing may be done to help choose the best treatment.
The stool also may be examined under a microscope to look for parasites such as Giardia.
What Affects the Test
Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:
What To Think About
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