Stool Culture
Test OverviewA stool culture is a test on a stool sample to find germs (such as bacteria or a fungus) that can cause an infection. A sample of stool is added to a substance that promotes the growth of germs. If no germs grow, the culture is negative. If germs that can cause infection grow, the culture is positive. The type of germ may be identified using a microscope or chemical tests. Sometimes other tests are done to find the right medicine for treating the infection. This is called sensitivity testing. 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 DoneA stool culture is done to: - Find the cause of symptoms. It can help explain symptoms such as severe or
bloody diarrhea or an increased amount of gas. It can also help find the cause of nausea, vomiting, loss of
appetite, bloating, belly pain and cramping, and fever.
- Find
and identify certain types of organisms that are
causing infections or diseases. These include
food poisoning, inflammation of the large intestine
(colitis),
cholera, and
typhoid.
- Identify a person who may not
have any symptoms of disease but who carries bacteria that can spread infection
to others. This person is called a carrier. A person who is a carrier and who
handles food is likely to infect others.
- Find out if treatment for
an infection has worked as it should.
How To PrepareYou do not need to do anything special to prepare for this test. Tell your doctor if you have recently taken
antibiotics, traveled out of the country, drunk untreated water, 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 about 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 DoneStool samples can be collected at home. Or you may need to go to your doctor's office, a medical clinic, or 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 steps
for each sample. To collect the sample: - Urinate before you collect the stool. That way, you won't get any urine in the stool sample. Do not urinate while you pass the
stool.
- Put on gloves before handling your stool. Stool can contain
germs that spread infection.
Wash your hands after you take off your gloves.
- Pass stool (but no
urine) into a dry container. You may be given a plastic basin that you can place under the toilet seat to catch the stool.
- Either solid or liquid stool can be
collected.
- If you have diarrhea, a large plastic bag taped to the
toilet seat may make the collection process easier. The bag is then placed in a
plastic container.
- Do not collect the sample from the toilet
bowl.
- Do not mix toilet paper, water, or soap with the sample.
- Place the lid on the container. Label it with
your name, your doctor's name, and the date the stool was collected. If you need more than one sample, use a separate container for each sample. Collect
a sample only once a day unless your doctor gives you other directions.
Take the sample to your doctor's office or the
lab as soon as you can. You may need to take your sample to the lab within a certain time, usually within 30 minutes or less of collecting it. Tell your doctor if you think you may have trouble
getting the sample to the lab on time. Samples from babies and young
children may be taken from diapers (if the stool does not have urine mixed with it). Or a narrow tube may be put into the baby's rectum
while you hold the baby on your lap. Sometimes a stool sample
is collected using a rectal swab. The swab is
inserted into the rectum, rotated gently, and then pulled out. It is placed in a
clean, dry container and sent to the lab right away. How It FeelsMost people do not feel pain when they collect a stool sample. 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. RisksThere is no chance for problems while collecting
a stool sample. Be sure to wear gloves when you collect the sample. Wash
your hands before and after you collect the sample. This will help protect you
from spreading an infection. ResultsA stool culture is done to find
bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi that may be causing an infection. Stool
culture test results usually take 2 to 3 days. But some cultures for fungus and parasites may take weeks to get results. Stool culture| Normal: | No disease-causing bacteria, fungi, parasites, or viruses are present or grow in the culture. |
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| Abnormal: | Bacteria (such as
salmonella, shigella, or certain types of
E. coli) grow in the culture. Fungi such as yeast are found in the stool. |
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If bacteria are found in the culture,
sensitivity testing may be done to help choose the
best treatment. Your stool also may be looked at under a microscope to check for parasites such as Giardia. What Affects the TestYou may not be able to
have the test, or the results may not be helpful, if: - You recently used antibiotics, medicine (such as
bismuth) to control diarrhea, enemas, or laxatives.
- You recently had X-ray
tests using a
contrast material containing barium.
- Your
stool sample is mixed with urine.
- You do not have a
large enough sample.
- You did not get the stool sample to the lab for
testing quickly enough.
What To Think About- You may have an
infection even if your stool culture test is normal.
- A stool sample may be checked for
parasites such as pinworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and Giardia.
- A stool sample can also be
checked for:
- A stool analysis is a series of tests done on a
sample of stool to help diagnose certain conditions that affect the digestive
tract. These conditions include infection, poor absorption, and cancer. To learn more,
see the topic
Stool Analysis.
ReferencesOther Works Consulted- Chernecky CC, Berger BJ (2008). Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures, 5th ed. St. Louis: Saunders.
- Fischbach FT, Dunning MB III, eds. (2009). Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 8th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
- Pagana KD, Pagana TJ (2010). Mosby's Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier.
CreditsByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerAdam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Current as ofJanuary 6, 2017 Current as of:
January 6, 2017 Last modified on: 8 September 2017
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