Stool Examination & Stool Culture
A stool examination looks for parasites, their eggs, blood and white cells in a sample of faeces. A stool culture (coproculture) grows the bacteria that cause diarrhoea, identifies them and tests which antibiotics work against them. Together, these tests find the cause of many digestive problems.
At YGOPH, stool tests are requested for children with persistent or bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain, poor growth or unexplained anaemia, which can be caused by worms such as hookworm. They are also used when cholera, typhoid or food poisoning is suspected, and for adults with long-lasting digestive symptoms.
What do stool tests involve?
For the parasitological examination (KAOP), a technician looks at the stool under the microscope, directly and after a concentration technique, to find cysts of amoebae or Giardia and the eggs or larvae of worms such as Ascaris, hookworm, whipworm or Schistosoma. For a stool culture, the sample is placed on growth media to detect bacteria such as Salmonella, Shigella or Vibrio cholerae, followed by antibiotic sensitivity testing if a germ is found.
- Diarrhoea lasting more than a few days, or with blood or mucus
- Abdominal pain, bloating or loss of appetite
- Poor growth or unexplained anaemia in a child
- Suspected cholera, typhoid or food poisoning
- Follow-up after treatment for parasites
Good to know
Collecting the sample
Use a clean, dry, sterile container from the laboratory or a pharmacy. Collect a portion of fresh stool, especially any part with blood or mucus, without urine or water from the toilet. For babies, take stool from a clean nappy as soon as possible after it is passed. Close the container and write the name and time on it.
Bring it quickly
Some parasites, such as amoebae, can only be seen alive in fresh stool, and bacteria can die or be overgrown if the sample waits. Bring the sample to the laboratory within one to two hours, ideally within 30 minutes, and keep it at room temperature unless the laboratory tells you otherwise.
Understanding the results
The laboratory reports any parasites seen and, for cultures, the bacteria identified and the antibiotics they are sensitive to. Because parasites are not passed every day, a negative result does not always exclude them, and your doctor may ask for samples on several days.