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What is Stool Culture Test?
Been prescribed a stool culture test by the doctor? Read on to know more. An essential diagnostic test, the Stool Culture Test is performed to identify any form of harmful fungi, bacteria, or virus in the stool. This test is also performed as the first step to identify gastric cancer. Book your appointment to get a free second opinion now.
In a stool culture test, your stool or faeces is collected and analysed in a diagnostic lab to observe the build-up of any type of harmful bacteria, fungi, or viruses. It is also used to identify whether you have any other type of medical condition that can be understood from the analysis of a stool sample. During a stool culture test, your faecal sample is put through chemical, microscopic, and microbial analyses to fully understand the medical condition you are suffering from. For example, stool culture test results can indicate haemorrhoids, anal fissures, inflammatory bowel disease, and even gastric cancer. The test is non-invasive, and painless, with no side effects. The faecal matter is a good indication of any stomach illness, and hence the stool culture test is an essential diagnostic test prescribed by the doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the Stool Culture Test used for?
A stool culture test is primarily used to help doctors identify the nature of the infection in your gastrointestinal tract. The infection can be either bacteria-, fungi-, or virus-related. With a successful stool culture test result, your physician can identify the type of illness and begin treatment at the earliest.
How to understand the results of a Stool Culture Test?
The results of a stool culture test can be either positive or negative. If you get a negative test result, it means no harmful bacteria, fungi, or viruses have been found in your stool. However, if you get a positive result, it means there is the presence of harmful microorganisms in your gut.Â
Why do I need a Stool Culture Test?
If you have been experiencing any or all of the symptoms related to a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection in your bowels (intestinal tract), then it is highly likely that you have been infected with harmful microorganisms. In this case, you would need to undergo a stool culture test.
What happens during a Stool Culture Test?
The first thing you need to do is collect a sample of your stool and send it to the diagnostic lab for analysis. At the diagnostic lab, this sample is combined with certain chemicals that harbour the growth of harmful germs and then analysed. If there are any such germs, they will show up in the test results.Â
What can be diagnosed from a stool sample?
With the help of a stool sample, the presence of any harmful germs like bacteria, fungi, or even viruses can be identified. A pathologist can also identify other gastrointestinal abnormalities from a stool sample. For example, inflammatory bowel disease, haemorrhoids, anal fissures, and gastric cancer can all be identified with a stool culture test.
What does a positive stool test mean?
If the test result from your stool culture comes out positive it means that there is some kind of abnormality in your faecal matter. This can indicate the presence of harmful microorganisms, or even an underlying medical condition like gastric cancer. To understand in more detail, you shouldn’t hesitate to consult your doctor.
Why would a doctor want a stool sample?
Your doctor would want your stool sample to be analysed if you come with a complaint of any kind of stomach distress. Your doctor will try to identify from your faecal matter what it is that is making you sick.
What illnesses can be found in a stool sample?
A stool culture test can be used to detect a host of different infections in your gut. If you have a parasite infection, a yeast or bacterial overgrowth, or even cancerous cells, it will be easily found by analysing your stool sample. Pathogenic bacteria like C. difficile, Campylobacter and certain strains of E. coli can also be found in your stool sample.
Can a stool sample detect Crohn's disease?
A stool sample cannot directly indicate Crohn’s disease. However, due to Crohn’s disease, there may be significant bleeding and a good amount of inflammation in your gut. These two conditions can be identified from your stool sample.
Can a stool sample detect IBS?
No, IBS or irritable bowel syndrome cannot usually be detected with the help of stool culture tests. There are many other ways in which a doctor can diagnose IBS. If you think you have IBS, then you should book an appointment or even try out a free second opinion consultation.Â
 Book an appointment or Get a free second opinion from our experts at Yashoda Hospitals today.
References:
https://www.verywellhealth.com/stool-test-options-796641#:~:text=A%20stool%20test%20is%20used,hemorrhoids%2C%20anal%20fissures%20or%20infections.
https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hw5738#:~:text=A%20stool%20culture%20is%20a,promotes%20the%20growth%20of%20germs.
https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-stool-testing-blood-fecal-occult-blood-test#:~:text=A%20positive%20fecal%20occult%20blood,the%20stomach%20or%20small%20intestine.
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-a-stool-culture#:~:text=If%20you’ve%20been%20having,might%20be%20making%20you%20sick.
https://healthpath.com/gut-health/what-can-be-detected-stool-sample-uk/#:~:text=A%20stool%20test%20can%20detect,coli.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/crohns-disease/diagnosis/#:~:text=Blood%20and%20stool%20samples%20can,weeks%20to%20get%20the%20results.
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/irritable-bowel-syndrome/diagnosis#:~:text=In%20most%20cases%2C%20doctors%20don,check%20for%20other%20health%20problems.
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