Stool Test

Stool tests are done to find a cause of unexplained chronic or heavy acute diarrhea, anemia or weight loss. Tests may reveal intestinal parasites, bacterial infection, celiac disease or Crohn’s disease, blood and various substances (fats, reducing substances) that speak for intestinal malabsorption.

How to Prepare for a Stool Test?

1-2 weeks before the test, you should avoid antacids, anti-diarrheal and anti-parasite medications, antibiotics, enemas and laxatives (after discussion with your doctor). Your doctor can provide you a stool collection kit with instructions for its use. Emptying the bladder before having a bowel movement is recommended, so urine does not contaminate the stool. Stool for the test should be collected in a plastic bag put over the toilet, or from a diaper, stored in a clean sealable container and taken to the laboratory within 1 hour or according to doctor’s instructions. In the lab, only stool tests, specifically ordered by the doctor, and not all possible tests, will be done. Beside specific tests, the stool will be checked for color, consistency, weight (volume), shape, odor, and the presence of mucus.

continue reading Stool Analysis and Blood Work Results in Gastrointestinal Disorders

What Are Intestinal Parasites?

Intestinal parasites are either one-cell organisms or intestinal worms that live in the human intestines (small or large) and use the stool or blood from intestinal wall as a source of the food.

1. One-Cell Parasites – Protozoa

One cell organisms like Giardia lamblia, also called Giardia duodenale (Picture 1), cryptosporidium (crypto) and cyclospora utilize nutrients from the stool are part of Protozoa (Greek protos = first, zoa = animals). They may cause inflammation of the small intestine thus reducing its absorption capacity. Entamoeba hystolytica predominantly lives in the colon.

Picture 1. Parasite giardia from a stool sample,
as seen under the electron microscope (actual size:~0.01 mm)
(source: phil.cdc.gov)

continue reading Human Intestinal Parasites – Symptoms and Treatment