Stool Culture & Sensitivity

Sample type

A fresh stool sample transported to the laboratory within 2 hours or one that has been placed in a transport medium (a collection vial containing a preservative)

Uses

To determine whether you have an infection of your digestive tract due to the presence of disease-causing (pathogenic) bacteria.

Precautions

The stool sample should not be contaminated with urine or water.
Once it has been collected, the stool should be taken to the laboratory within two hours after collection or should be transferred into a vial containing a preservative and taken to the lab as soon as possible.
For infants, a stool sample is usually collected with a swab of the rectum.
The stool should be placed into clean, dry plastic jars with screw-cap lids.

Interfering factors

Pre analytical errors

1) Inappropriate storage and transport specimens

Corrective action

The sample should be transferred into a vial containing a preservative and store at specific temperature.

Post analytical errors

1) Delayed reported results.

Corrective action

In general, the result of the stool culture is reported within 24 to 48 hours.

Reference ranges