What to collect feces in. How to collect a stool sample correctly

If there is any abnormality in the gastrointestinal tract, you should consult a doctor. The specialist will prescribe tests that will help identify the disease that has arisen. First of all, it will be necessary to do a stool test for coprogram. What it is and how to take it correctly, the doctor should explain.

About the features of fecal coprogram

The procedure is a study of feces, their physical and chemical composition. A laboratory employee looks at the appearance of the provided material and studies the stool microflora. All these studies help diagnose diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, monitor the dynamics of the disease, and also help the doctor prescribe the correct course of treatment.

This procedure is carried out in clinics and hospitals for free, but if you go to a private clinic, it will cost from 400 rubles. Which institution should I contact?, depends only on your personal preferences.

When identifying various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, coprogram is not the only analysis, it is prescribed in conjunction with other studies.

Some time after the course of treatment, the doctor prescribes a stool test again, as it is necessary to check whether the prescribed medications are helping.

Specifics of the analysis

When donating biomaterial, patients always have a number of questions: how much stool is needed for analysis, how and where to store it, when is it better to collect stool: in the morning or in the evening, how to test a baby.

All these questions should be asked to your doctor in order to carry out the entire procedure correctly and get a reliable and informative result.

Taking a stool test is not difficult at all, but you must follow the instructions.

Rules for conducting a coprogram

In order for the research result to be accurate, several rules must be followed:

It is important to prepare the material correctly. Instructions for collecting stool for coprogram:

Stool analysis in children

The principle of collecting biomaterial from children is the same as from adults. If the child is an infant and does not yet go to the potty, then put the baby on an oilcloth (disposable diaper) and then collect the feces from it. It is very important that both the oilcloth and the mother’s hands are clean when collecting the analysis. It is not recommended to collect feces from a baby's diaper.

If your baby is unable to empty his bowels on his own for a long time, help him by giving him a tummy massage. In special cases, a gas outlet tube can be used.

If you experience problems with the gastrointestinal tract, you should immediately consult a doctor. He will prescribe a number of studies, including an analysis for coprogram. There is nothing complicated in passing this analysis; the main thing is to collect the biomaterial correctly.

Stool analysis

How to take a stool test for worm eggs and what conditions must be met in order for the study to be reliable, we will tell you in this article.

Indications for diagnostics

• constant stay in a closed community (preschool and school institutions, boarding schools, barracks, etc.);
• insufficient compliance with hygiene rules or the impossibility of observing them (field work);
• consumption of river fish and meat that have undergone insufficient heat treatment;
• constant contact with agricultural domestic animals (owners of personal farmsteads, rural residents);
• breeding dogs and working with them.

Stool analysis is included in the list of standard tests when obtaining a medical certificate for visiting kindergartens, schools and other institutions, and is also prescribed during medical examinations:

1. for hiring;
2. as part of periodic medical examinations of specialists working in the fields of healthcare, education, catering and trade and some others.

• weight loss for no apparent reason;
• constant weakness, shortness of breath;
• reduced performance;
• poor sleep;
• pain in joints and muscles;
• heaviness in the right hypochondrium;
• nausea;
• a feeling of bitterness in the mouth;
• periodic abdominal pain, especially in the navel area;
• stool disorders - diarrhea or constipation;
• pallor of the skin and mucous membranes;
• allergic phenomena: dermatitis, skin itching, acne;
• itching in the anal area.

1. roundworms (nematodes): roundworms, whipworms, necators, pinworms, duodenal worms;
2. flukes (flukes): schistosomes, liver and cat flukes;
3. tapeworms (cestodes): bovine tapeworm, pork tapeworm, broad tapeworm.

Let us dwell in more detail on the diagnostic features of each helminthiasis.

In most cases, additional studies and diagnostic methods are prescribed to confirm the diagnosis: blood ELISA, hemoscanning, retroromanoscopy, colonoscopy, examination of duodenal juice, coproovoscopy - detection of segments and proglottids in the feces and perianal area, and others.

How to prepare for research and correctly collect analysis

Preparing for the study

It is not recommended to eat liver (beef, pork), mushrooms, bran, pickled foods, soda, as well as large amounts of fruits, berries and vegetables a couple of days before the test. When treated with antibiotics, stool can be donated only a week after finishing taking the drug. You should also stay away from any strong drugs, with the exception of vital ones.

You cannot use laxatives, petroleum jelly, oil to induce bowel movements, or consume sorbents. The day before donating stool, you should drink more water, lead an active lifestyle, take a walk at night and a circular abdominal massage (especially in children). You can take a warm bath. There is no need to take water procedures (wash yourself) before defecation.

Where to collect feces

Defecation should be done in a clean plastic container (disposable plate, plastic bag, etc.). If your child collects feces, you can use a regular potty to perform bowel movements, but wash it thoroughly with hot water.

It is impossible for urine to get into the feces - you need to urinate before defecation.

How much feces do you need?

For analysis, morning stool is collected in an approximate volume of 50 g (if the stool is liquid - at least 5 ml). It is advisable to take samples from different parts of the stool. If crawling helminths are visually visible on the surface of the stool, they should be placed in a container with stool.

If defecation occurs in the evening, the feces are collected and placed in a container, which is stored in the refrigerator until the morning (see below).

Capacity

To collect stool, you need to prepare a clean container made of glass or plastic. Also for these purposes, pharmacies sell special disposable containers with a tight screw-on lid, inside of which there is a spoon for collecting stool.

How to collect feces

Collect feces using a regular disposable plastic spoon, which should be thrown away after use. You should not use wood chips, matches, toothpicks, wooden drink sticks, or cotton swabs - microfibers can get into the stool and make the examination difficult. Moreover, you cannot use cutlery and other reusable items.

Features of stool analysis in young children

If you need to collect feces from a small child under one year old, you cannot take feces from the diaper, although this option is certainly the easiest for the mother. You should place the baby on a clean diaper for the time when bowel movements are approximately expected to occur. If the child is already crawling or walking, you should wear regular panties and watch for signs of defecation (groaning, straining, etc.).

How to store

If the material cannot be immediately taken to the laboratory, the container with feces is closed with a lid and stored in the refrigerator, wrapped in a bag, at a temperature of 0 to 4 ° C, separately from other products.

How long to store

Ideally, no more than 8 hours. In medical institutions, a preservative is sometimes used to preserve the material. However, the most reliable result will be if the material is delivered to the laboratory within 35-40 minutes.

How long is feces good for?

If the temperature conditions are maintained, the stool sample can be stored for up to 8 hours (including transportation time to the laboratory).

Where can I get a stool test?

A stool test for worm eggs can be taken at any medical institution, public or private, where there is a laboratory that performs this type of research. A referral for testing should be obtained from the local nurse or at the pre-doctor’s office.

How long is the analysis valid?

The analysis period is 10 days from the date the result is issued (the date is indicated on the form). After 10 days, the test will have to be retaken.

How long does it take to test stool for worm eggs?

You can get research results the very next day, and if the laboratory is lightly loaded, on the same day, in a couple of hours. As a rule, a stool test for worm eggs is not prescribed by cito, with the exception of emergency cases when the patient needs to be urgently hospitalized in a specialized medical facility, and this study is mandatory for referral to a hospital.

How long does it take to prepare the analysis and how is it carried out in the laboratory?

If possible, the stool sample is immediately processed or placed under appropriate temperature conditions before testing begins. In some cases, a preservative may be used. Sample preparation and the specifics of the study depend on the method used.

1. Macroscopic methods are used to detect mature helminths or their fragments using a magnifying glass or stereoscope. Using tweezers, remove all suspicious formations from the surface of the stool onto a Petri dish, examine them through a magnifying glass and under a microscope between slides.
2. Thick smear method. A thin layer of feces sample is examined on a glass slide under a special hygroscopic cellophane, which is impregnated with phenol, glycerin and malachite green. A pea-sized stool sample is applied to the glass, rubbed with a glass rod and covered with a cellophane strip, cleared for half an hour. With such preparation, you can view 30 times more drugs.
3. Sedimentation (precipitation) method. It is based on the difference in the specific gravity of the reagents and helminth eggs, which are concentrated in the sediment. The sediment is obtained using a centrifuge and further examined under a microscope. Modified sedimentation methods with the Real mini-system and disposable PARASEP concentrators are also used.
4. Method for studying feces using flotation solutions. The technique is based on the difference in the specific gravity of helminth eggs and the flotation solution - helminth eggs float and concentrate in the surface film. Next, the film is examined under a microscope.

Before the analysis, it is impossible to toilet the anal area, and it is also unacceptable to conduct the study after defecation. Optimally - in the morning immediately after waking up. To take an analysis, adhesive tape is used, which is pressed against the anus with the adhesive side for 1-2 seconds and then evenly glued onto a glass slide. The edges of the film protruding along the edges of the glass are cut off.

Most often, the study is carried out on children, and the prints are taken by the parents - the glass and tape are given by a nurse at a clinic or kindergarten. It is allowed to store scrapings for enterobiasis for no more than 8 hours, ensuring a storage temperature of no more than 4 degrees (in the refrigerator). Examined under a microscope.

Stool analysis for protozoa

Identification and differentiation of protozoa in feces is challenging. Single-celled organisms can be found in feces in two forms: vegetative (trophozoite) - vital, mobile and unstable to temperature changes and external influences, and in the form of cysts (oocysts) - dormant forms that survive well even in unfavorable conditions. In formalized feces, protozoa can mainly be found in an encysted state. To “catch” the vegetative form, feces must be examined while still warm. Vegetative forms of protozoa quickly die in cooled feces, are exposed to proteolytic enzymes and lose the characteristic features of their structure. When the stool cools, the mobility of the protozoa first decreases and then disappears altogether - and this is an important diagnostic sign.

In feces you can find up to 20 species of protozoa from 4 groups: amoebas, flagellates, ciliates and coccidia, which live in the intestines (small and large). However, for an accurate diagnosis, this study alone is not enough - the most revealing analysis is the determination of specific antibodies in the patient’s blood.

Let's look at the most common types of protozoa that can be found in feces.

The most pathogenic species are Cryptosporidium parvum and felis.

Preparation for analysis is similar to that described above when examining stool for helminths. In a hospital setting, whenever possible, patients submit fresh, warm feces to the laboratory, in which there is the greatest likelihood of detecting vegetative forms of pathogens, provided that the material is immediately used for work.

To obtain accurate results or confirm the diagnosis, repeated testing may be required over several days (4-5). If a case of helminthic infestation is detected in one of the family members, all family members should undergo a stool test and other tests, as well as undergo preventive treatment. This is due to the fact that helminthiasis spreads very quickly in domestic conditions. In addition, preventive treatment should also be carried out for pets - cats and dogs.

Any medical procedure must be carried out in accordance with certain rules, on compliance with which its effectiveness depends. Intramuscular injections are made under aseptic conditions to avoid infection, tablets are taken in accordance with treatment regimens to prevent drug overdose, and so on. For some reason, patients believe that all these subtleties should be known and followed by medical staff, but they do not concern patients. The only rule known to most is that blood must be donated on an empty stomach. However, even submitting stool for examination is carried out after some preparation and in accordance with a number of important instructions.

Five general rules for donating stool

1.​ The sample obtained for analysis must be obtained as a result of spontaneous bowel movements, that is, without enemas or taking laxatives. The first ones are prohibited to be carried out less than 2 days before the study, the second - less than 2-3 days. Otherwise, the contents pass through the intestines faster, which disrupts the composition of the stool, which should have formed under natural conditions. For example, undigested food debris, fats, starch and other components may be detected, based on the presence of which a specialist has reason to suspect, for example, pancreatitis.

However, some researchers note that a sample obtained using laxatives sometimes better demonstrates the presence of Giardia: they are washed out of the duodenum and quickly enter the feces, without having time to modify and die in the underlying parts of the digestive tract.

2.​ The fresher the stool sample, the better. Optimally, 4-6 hours should pass from donating stool to the moment it gets to the laboratory. This is not an absolute criterion, it’s just that over time the composition of the stool, primarily microbiological, may change, which can affect the results.

Unfortunately, laboratories for receiving tests are only open during certain hours in the morning. Most medical institutions see them from 8 to 10 am. This makes the task somewhat difficult, because there are people who are used to going to the toilet only in the evening, and some children cannot be forced to sit on the potty after waking up with any force or tricks. What to do? If time is pressing, you can experiment and try to endure the next bowel movement until the morning; if that doesn’t work, hand in the latest possible evening portion and take it in immediately after the laboratory opens. Even such a sample is better than nothing.

3. Before donating stool, you should follow a proper healthy diet for 2-3 days, do not eat too many foods that cause gas, diarrhea or constipation. You should also avoid eating beets and other foods that can affect the color of your stool.

4. If possible, on the eve of sample collection, you should stop taking certain medications: activated carbon (gives stool a black color), bismuth (also affects color), rectal suppositories (change its composition), pilocarpine (affects peristalsis). Also, within 2 days before donating stool, you should not conduct X-ray contrast studies of the digestive organs (barium passage, irrigoscopy): barium sulfate, which patients take, gives the stool a white color and disrupts its composition.

5.​ It is advisable for women during menstruation to avoid donating feces. If this is necessary, you should use a swab to prevent blood from getting into the sample.

From theory to practice

Let's hope that all the rules outlined above are clear, simple and will be taken into account. Now let’s decide what the stool collection procedure itself should look like.

Before collection, you must first urinate and thoroughly wash the perineum with warm water and soap, and then dry well. It is highly undesirable for both urine and water to get into the sample. Many people neglect hygiene, believing that feces in themselves are “dirty”, and excess microbes from the surface of the skin will definitely not harm the results. However, along with germs, chemical components from linen and clothing can get into the stool, so it is better to pay sufficient attention to this point.

You need to defecate in a dry, clean container, for example, a bedpan or, if the patient is a child, a potty. What to do if there is no vessel at home, as in most families? Some “hand over” feces into the toilet, if its design allows it, and then take the sample from there. However, this is undesirable, since the cleanliness of the toilet is not ideal. You can offer an alternative - stretch cling film over the toilet seat, comfortably do your business on it and collect a sample; many people do just that.

The sample is collected in a clean, sealed container, glass or plastic. By volume you need to take about a teaspoon of feces. Then the dishes are sealed and taken to the laboratory.

Special instructions when taking certain tests

Before taking the test, you must avoid foods containing iron, primarily meat and offal, for 3-4 days before the test. Also, at this time, invasive interventions on the gastrointestinal tract (gastroscopy, colonoscopy) are not performed, and on the day before the analysis you should even stop brushing your teeth. A highly sensitive chemical reaction can give a false positive answer if it detects components of destroyed blood (including simple iron) in the stool.

A stool sample intended for testing for dysbacteriosis () must be collected not just in clean, but in sterile containers. Microbes from contaminated walls can enter the sample and affect the results.

When collecting, it is better to make the sample a little larger in volume than it should be, and collect it from several places, rather than taking it “in one block.”

If you are about to undergo a stool test, make sure that you have prepared for the test properly and have not violated any of the listed rules. And, even if compliance with them seems difficult and dreary to you, do not forget that this is the key to obtaining the right results, that is, you are acting in your own interests.

PS: Read also “ “, “ “

• bismuth;
• Activated carbon;
• polycarpine;
• rectal suppositories.

Rule #6

It is recommended to follow a healthy diet for 3-4 days before collecting stool for examination. You should not abuse foods that contribute to constipation, diarrhea, and the formation of gas. Also, you should not eat foods that can change the color of stool, such as beets.

In the later stages of liver failure, encephalopathy progresses to coma. HOW TO RECOGNIZE A DISEASE WITHOUT EXPRESS SIGNATURES. Some patients experience mild pain in the right subcutaneous region, as well as increased fatigue. But these symptoms are also characteristic of other liver diseases. Therefore, ultrasound and biochemical blood tests are performed. Such examinations are carried out twice a year during these first years, and only then can a definitive diagnosis be made. Complete clarity may lead to a biopsy and microscopic analysis of the liver tissue.

1. If stool is submitted for research, the purpose of which is to detect pathogens of intestinal infection in it, it must be collected not just in a clean and dry container, but in a specially prepared sterile container (container).
2. If you donate stool to detect the presence of “hidden” blood in its composition, you should not eat foods rich in iron for 3 days before the test. First of all, this applies to meat products and offal:

They strengthen the liver cell membrane and improve its functioning. They take courses for 2-3 months twice a year. Before complications arise, a strict diet is not required, but you need to give up all spices and limit salted, canned, smoked and fried foods. Use vegetable fats - especially flaxseed oil and olive oil. You should include zero or one percent fat dairy products in your menu. Cirrhosis is strictly prohibited from heavy physical labor, heavy lifting and mental overload.

WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF BORDER CROSSING? The first signs of encephalopathy are unreasonable irritability, spontaneous errors in mental work, memory impairment and sleep disturbances. Protein-rich foods - meat, fish, dairy products should be excluded. The patient is forced to walk over pulp, puree, fruits and vegetables. There is a major drug for the treatment of encephalopathy in cirrhosis of the liver. This is a syrup that is taken 3-5 times a day - one tablespoon. It disposes and prevents the absorption of the toxic substance ammonia into the intestines.

• rabbit, chicken, turkey;
• hearts;
• liver;
• language;
• lungs;
• ears;
• lamb, pork, veal;
• brains;
• ventricles.

3. If stool needs to be tested to detect worm eggs, it should be taken in slightly larger quantities than for other types of research. In addition, feces must be taken from different places, and not from a single block.
4. On the day before collecting stool for analysis, it is better to refrain from brushing your teeth.
By adhering to the “simple” rules described above, you can safely submit stool for laboratory testing, which will allow you to get accurate results.

Keep in mind that ammonia levels increase with liver failure. If you develop ascites, you should reduce your fluid intake to a liter per day and also switch to unsalted foods. If these measures are ineffective, take diuretics. In case of bleeding from the veins in the esophagus and stomach, the patient is immediately hospitalized. The first signs of internal hemorrhage are coffee-colored or sludge-colored vomit, black stools, sudden weakness and a sharp decrease in blood pressure.

Is dark honey better than light?

This is the surgeon who decides to surgically tie the bleeding veins or begin conservative treatment with medications that reduce intravenous pressure. Honey is in small disposable bags, like marmalade. . There are more answers to this question, depending on which corner we look at.

Research in the laboratory

Stool analysis: what is it and why is it done?

Many people wonder what a stool test is, and why is it needed, and is it possible to detect serious diseases through such diagnostics? The analysis is carried out in order to study the state of the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract and the digestive system as a whole.

Does dark wood come from dark honey?

The vibrant “colored” honey comes from plant nectar and is easily digestible due to its high grape and fruit sugar content. Contains pollen grains of various flowers, which are a source of vitamins. Dark honey is darker, resulting in plant dyes that aphids feed on. Contains more minerals and trace elements. Unlike raw honey, it is “less” and more digestible. The current fashionable popularity of "dark forest" honey is purely a Central European affair, while the "rest of the world" continues to enjoy the popularity of bright, nectarean honey flowers. Medallion honey crystallizes very slowly and is much better scooped up with a glass spoon or spread on bread or roll.

• Due to the higher grape sugar content, it crystallizes faster.
• Some pollen allergens can cause problems.

Dark honey, which we mistakenly call "forest", is rightly called bug honey.

Why is stool diagnostics needed?

In its normal state, feces have an amorphous consistency and consist mainly of the remains of foods consumed by humans. In a healthy person, only food residues are visible in the feces, since the stomach does not always completely digest all the food. The presence of inclusions such as blood, mucus, or changes in the color and consistency of stool is a good reason to seek help from specialists. Usually, to identify the true cause of the disease, doctors suggest taking stool for analysis. In medicine, such an analysis is called a coprogram. This research method requires special preparation, and also allows you to identify the exact cause of the following stable conditions:

The remedy is simply a sweet juice that helps keep aphids out of your body. And this happens on different trees and plants. They are most often found on coniferous trees, as well as on deciduous trees such as maple, beech, oak, linden, etc. thus, the "dark honey" may also be from the city center.

Thrifs feed through plant screens - pipes through which sap flows. Thus, it contains a large amount of sugars accordingly. its quantity fluctuates with the growing season. Through the flesh, food passes through the filter chamber, which is a large part of the digestive system. Here's a pressure filtration that preserves the amino acids. These amino acids and some of the sugars contained in vegetable juice, as well as some of the water, pass through the midgut, where they are absorbed.

• Feeling of nausea, open vomiting
• Blood in feces
• Flatulence
• Belching accompanied by an unpleasant odor and aftertaste
• Painful symptoms in the stomach
• Dysbacteriosis

Coprogram as a research method carefully studies the components of stool and gives an objective assessment of the patient’s health status. Thanks to the results of the coprogram, the specialist will be able not only to find out about the cause of the disease and make an accurate diagnosis, but also to prescribe an adequate treatment method.

Special container for collecting feces

Preparing for the test is as important as the diagnosis itself. Therefore, the following recommendations have been developed:

1. Feces need to be collected in the morning. Immediately before collection, be sure to carry out hygiene procedures for the genitals and anus using soap. Discharge, blood, drops of urine from the genitourinary organs should not get into the biomaterial, and you should not collect fragments of feces from the toilet - this can qualitatively affect the results.
2. If stool is taken for the study of occult blood, then a few days before its collection, special preparation of the body is required, namely, to refuse to eat foods containing large quantities. The day before the test, stop taking medications so as not to provoke chemical coloring of the stool.
3. If the test is intended to identify microbes and infections that provoke dysbiosis, then it would be advisable to follow a strict diet for several days. Only in this way will the coprogram be able to determine what is the main cause of dysbiosis - infection or malnutrition.

Basic principles of stool collection

In order to obtain accurate results, stool must be collected taking into account the following preparation knowledge:

• The sample must be obtained naturally; the use of any laxatives and enemas is prohibited.
• Preparation for collecting feces should begin with a sterile stick and utensils. It is recommended to store the collection only in sterile containers.
• For the test, you only need a fresh stool sample. The optimal time from collection to the moment of sending to the laboratory should be no more than 3-4 hours, since after 4 hours the microbiological composition of stool changes. Store in a cool place.
• Do not pick up feces from the toilet. Living microorganisms on the walls of the toilet will end up in the feces, which will affect the results of the coprogram. It is better to empty yourself in a clean bag or potty. You can also put cling film over the toilet.
• To identify worms and their eggs, it is necessary to take several samples, that is, collect feces from 2-3 feces.
• During menstruation, refuse to take tests. If it is necessary for health reasons, then you need to use a tampon so that blood does not get into the sample.

Many people wonder how much stool should be collected for one sample? Experts say that 10-15 grams of feces is enough.

Dishes for collecting feces

Before you begin submitting biomaterial for laboratory examination, you also need some preparation. Today you can purchase sterile containers for donating stool at any pharmacy. Special containers are characterized as sterile containers; they can be glass or plastic. The container is sold complete with a lid and spatula. If it is not possible to purchase a container at a pharmacy, then you can store the collection in a small bottle with a lid, which must first be thoroughly rinsed and dried.

Before submitting the biomaterial to the laboratory, it is recommended to store it in a tightly closed container at a temperature not exceeding +5 degrees. If the room is hot, then the biomaterial must be stored in a cool place, since there is a possibility that active processes of fermentation and proliferation of putrefactive bacteria will begin in the biomaterial.

If feces are donated to determine dysbacteriosis, then the collection can take place at any time of the day, so the question arises of how long the biomaterial can be stored in the refrigerator. The answer to this question is simple - no more than a day.

By following these simple rules for collecting biomaterial, you can submit a high-quality sample to the laboratory, which will reveal the cause of the disease.

Many patients ask how many days does it take to diagnose a biomaterial? Experts say no more than a day.

Basic indicators of feces

The main signs by which the study is constructed and deviations from the norm are determined:

• Consistency
• Smell
• Presence of protein
• White blood cell level

Let's look at each of these signs separately.

• Color. A reddish tint to feces indicates ulcerative or cancerous diseases. Moreover, blood may be present in the feces. Yellow color indicates a disruption of the digestive process, the presence of infection and dysbacteriosis. Black color is a sign of bleeding or the presence of blood clots in the stomach cavity. Light yellow is a sign of hepatitis and pancreatitis. White color indicates blockage of the bile duct.
• Consistency. Loose stools are associated with the presence of inflammatory processes, dysbiosis and hypersecretion of the mucous membrane in the small intestine. Pasty feces indicate cholecystitis and pancreatitis. Dense feces indicate the presence of stenosis or inflammation of the colon. The colon begins to store processed food material, resulting in constipation and dense masses of feces.
• Smell. A weak odor is associated with disorders such as accelerated evacuation or insufficient digestion. If an ulcer is present, the smell of feces is characterized by a putrid odor. A sour smell will indicate problems with the pancreas and the presence of blood in the stool.

Presence of protein and level of leukocytes in stool

Another factor used to determine intestinal dysfunction is the presence of protein and the level of leukocytes. In a healthy person, there are no proteins or leukocytes in the stool. The presence of such inclusions may indicate quite serious diseases, here is a small list of the most famous:

• Cracks in the rectum
• Chronic hemorrhoids,
• Oncological diseases
• Gastritis
• Polyps
• Cirrhosis
• Dysbacteriosis

Regarding the high level of leukocytes, this indicates the occurrence of an inflammatory process in the digestive system. To identify the localization of the inflammatory process, correct bacteriological diagnosis is necessary. If you apply both methods to study the gastrointestinal tract, you can get results that will reveal a number of diseases such as:

1. State of infectious dysbacteriosis
2. Disorders of the intestine, both small and duodenal
3. Presence of colitis
4. Inflammatory processes of the gastrointestinal tract
5. Impaired liver function
6. Unstable pancreas function
7. Rapid passage of products and their removal from the stomach and intestines, skipping the digestion process.

The effectiveness of the scatological method of studying stool analysis has been clinically and scientifically proven, based on examinations and interviews with a large number of patients who have undergone such a study and note that they have been completely cured of both simple and complex chronic diseases of the esophagus.

How to take a stool test, in what cases is it necessary, and are there any specifics for collecting material for different studies - questions that patients often ask their doctor when receiving a referral.

Feces are the end product of digestion, the contents of the distal colon, excreted during defecation. Fecal masses are formed during the passage of food components through the entire gastrointestinal tract, therefore, by their condition and properties, one can judge the condition of all parts of the digestive system.

Fecal analysis is a study of the physical, chemical and microscopic features of the composition of feces, identifying pathological components or impurities for the purpose of diagnosing diseases of the digestive system or assessing the effectiveness of therapy. A general analysis of stool to determine the digestive capacity of the stomach and intestines is called a coprogram. In the laboratory, the physical properties of the sample are examined: color, smell, quantity, shape, consistency, pH.

Careful adherence to the rules of preparation and technique for collecting material largely affects the reliability of the coprogram result.

Before defecation, it is recommended to empty the bladder, then thoroughly wash the external genitalia. For hygiene procedures, it is better to use soap without foaming additives or fragrances. To prevent urine and water from getting into the stool, thoroughly wipe away the moisture with a towel.

You should prepare in advance the container in which the stool analysis will be delivered to the laboratory. This can be a sterile glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, but it is best to use a special plastic container for collecting stool with a spatula built into the lid (available at a pharmacy). You need to take care in advance about the container from which the feces will be collected for analysis. This can be a dry and clean vessel, or you can attach plastic film to the surface of the toilet. After defecation, 10-15 g of feces are taken into a prepared container using a spatula. It is important to remember to sign the container before submitting it to the laboratory.

Is it possible to collect material for analysis in the evening and submit it to the laboratory in the morning? This option is acceptable, but it should be noted that it is recommended to deliver the biomaterial to the laboratory no later than 8 hours after its collection. In this case, it is recommended to store the container with the evening stool sample at home in the refrigerator, at a temperature of +3 to +5 ºС. You can’t freeze yesterday’s material. How long can collected stool be stored in the refrigerator? For general analysis, feces can be left on the middle shelf of the refrigerator for 6–8 hours.

It is prohibited to collect material for research earlier than two days after an X-ray contrast examination of the digestive tract (irrigoscopy, barium passage). It is better for women during menstruation to refrain from submitting stool for testing, but if the test cannot be rescheduled, a vaginal tampon is used during bowel movements.

Stool intended for analysis must be formed naturally; enemas or laxatives should not be used. Three days before stool collection, it is recommended to exclude medications that affect peristalsis, composition and color of stool (sorbents, antibiotics, contrast agents, motility agents, rectal suppositories).

On the eve of the stool test, you need to exclude from the diet foods that contribute to discoloration of stool (tomatoes, beets, rhubarb), excessive formation of gases in the intestines, diarrhea or constipation.

Features of collecting material for other studies

Fecal occult blood test

A week before taking a stool test, you must stop taking iron-containing drugs, ascorbic acid, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetylsalicylic acid. Three days before the study, exclude foods containing iron from the diet (meat, offal, white beans, bell peppers, apples, green onions, spinach).

Normally, stool is cylindrical in shape and has a compacted, homogeneous consistency; the color of stool can be various shades of brown; the water content in stool is about 80%.

Fecal analysis for helminth eggs

When conducting an analysis for opisthorchiasis, difficulties are encountered in diagnosing the early stage of the disease. For greater reliability of detection of helminth cysts, it is recommended to take larger quantities of stool than in other studies.

A test for enterobiasis allows you to more accurately identify the presence or absence of pinworm eggs. To obtain reliable results, you should not toilet the anal area or empty your bowels before collecting material. A plastic container with a long cotton swab is suitable for collecting material. Use the tip of a cotton swab to scrape the perianal folds, carefully lower the swab into the container and close the lid tightly. To obtain the most accurate results, it is recommended to carry out the analysis three times.

Bacteriological analysis of stool

Analysis of stool for the intestinal group allows you to determine the presence of pathogens of intestinal infection. Also, bacteriological testing allows you to determine the sensitivity of the identified infectious agent to antibacterial drugs. Three days before the study, you must stop taking antibiotics, iron supplements, laxatives, and rectal suppositories. It is recommended to exclude meat dishes from the diet and not drink alcohol. The material is collected in a special sterile container (container). To eliminate errors and get reliable results, feces should be taken three times.

Stool intended for analysis must be formed naturally; enemas or laxatives should not be used.

Collection of stool for analysis in children

A diaper or oilcloth is used to collect material from infants. If the stool is liquid, it can be poured from a diaper or oilcloth into a jar. For constipation, abdominal massage can be performed to stimulate bowel movements in newborns; in some cases, a rectal gas tube can help cope with the problem.

If the child already goes to the potty on his own, the same rules for collecting material are followed as for adults. Before collecting a stool sample, the pot must be washed clean without the use of disinfectants or cleaning agents.

Indicators determined by stool analysis

Normally, stool is cylindrical in shape and has a compacted, homogeneous consistency; the color of stool can be various shades of brown; the water content in stool is about 80%. The smell of feces in a healthy person is unpleasant, but not offensive. With a normal diet, the stool reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline.

Microscopic examination makes it possible to determine the presence of connective tissue, muscle fibers, neutral fats and acids, plant fiber and starch in the feces. With normal digestion, connective tissue is absent in stool analysis, stool does not contain neutral fats and fatty acids, small amounts of muscle fibers may appear after eating meat. Digestible fiber is not normally detected; the amount of indigestible plant fiber depends on the nature of the diet. There are no starch grains in the feces of a healthy person.

Chemical testing includes the detection of protein, bilirubin, blood cells, stercobilin, and allows us to determine the amount of cellular suspension (erythrocytes, leukocytes and epithelial cells) in feces. Normally, in a healthy person, there are no red blood cells in the feces; single leukocyte cells and a small number of squamous and columnar intestinal epithelial cells may be found.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article: