The stool test can be ordered by the doctor to assess digestive functions, the amount of fat in the stool or parasitic eggs, which is useful to know how the person is doing. It may be recommended that two to three collections be made on different days, each sample should be stored in a specific container and kept in the refrigerator.
It is important that the person has guidance from the doctor as to the collection, if it should be a single sample or several, and if after collecting it should be taken immediately to the laboratory for analysis or left in the refrigerator to deliver the next day. In the case of parasitological examination and in the examination of occult blood, feces can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Main types of stool examination
There are several types of stool tests that can be ordered by the doctor according to the purpose of the test:
- Parasitological examination of feces: through this examination, the search for parasitic cysts or eggs is useful to identify intestinal worms. In this case, you cannot use laxatives or suppositories before collecting feces, and the container must be kept in the refrigerator. If you suspect you have a worm, check for the symptoms of worms. Coproculture: this test is requested to identify the bacteria present in the feces, and it is possible to check the health of the intestine from the moment when the presence of bacteria that are not part of the normal microbiota is identified. The feces must be placed in a suitable container and sent to the laboratory within 24 hours, the patient does not use laxatives and the container with the feces must be kept in the refrigerator; Hidden Blood Survey: this test is indicated for screening for colon cancer, bowel cancer and possible bleeding in the digestive system, as it serves to evaluate small amounts of blood in the stool that cannot be seen with the naked eye. The feces must be sent to the laboratory no later than the following day and kept in the refrigerator. Avoid collecting feces in case of anal, nasal or gum bleeding during tooth brushing; Rotavirus Research: The feces, preferably when liquid, should be collected at any time of the day and taken to the laboratory in a maximum of 1 hour, with the aim of identifying the rotavirus and, thus, it is possible to start the treatment immediately afterwards, avoiding complications.
The minimum amount of feces depends on the laboratory's recommendation and the test to be performed. Normally, large amounts of feces are not necessary, only an amount that can be collected with the aid of the bucket that is provided with the container for the feces.
In the laboratory, micro and macroscopic aspects are evaluated, such as texture and color of the stools, since the color of the stools can be indicative of health conditions and can direct the microscopic evaluation. Here's how to understand stool color.
How to collect feces
The collection of feces must be done with care so that there is no contamination with urine or toilet water. For collection it is necessary:
- Evacuate on the potty or on a sheet of white paper placed on the bathroom floor; Collect a little feces with a small piece of water (which comes with the pot) and place it inside the jar; Write the full name on the jar and store in the refrigerator for 24 hours before being taken to the lab.
The procedure is simple and should be the same for adults, babies and children. Since when the patient wears diapers, the collection must be made immediately after the evacuation.
Another way to collect faeces in an easier way is to buy a kind of sterile plastic bag that lines the toilet and evacuate using the toilet normally. This bag does not allow contamination with the water present in the pot and facilitates the collection of feces, being especially useful for people with reduced mobility and who are unable to squat to avacuate on a potty or a sheet of newspaper, for example. The bag is called ColOff and can be purchased at pharmacies and on the internet with the approximate price of 5 reais.
Check out these tips in the following video about collecting stool for the exam:
