How to Read Your Stool Test Report: Key Metrics Explained
Diagnosing the presence of a wide variety of conditions, from infections to digestive disorders and cancers, stool tests are useful diagnostic tools. Interpretation of your stool test report can be very important to determine the causes of health problems and further guide treatment. In the next section, we will break down key metrics on a stool test report and explain what they mean to help interpret the results more easily.
Definition of a Stool Test
A stool test, also called fecal test or stool examination, is a medical diagnostic test that is used to diagnose a condition by examining a sample of stool in a laboratory. In this procedure, stool is taken from the patient, processed, and then analyzed for certain abnormalities in the digestive tract. A main purpose of a stool test is to detect infections, malabsorption problems, bleeding, or the presence of fat in the stool and indicators of diseases such as colon cancer. It may detect pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or parasites and is used to screen for occult or latent blood in stool.
There are many types of stool tests depending on the condition being sought after. Here is a list of the most common types of stool test:
- Stool culture: It is used to test bacterial or viral infections.
- Fecal occult blood test (FOBT): It tests for occult or latent blood from the stool that might be indicative of a diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
- Stool DNA test: Assays for the presence of DNA from cancerous or atypical cells.
- Fecal fat test: Quantifies the levels of fat in stool for the diagnosis of absorptive disorders.
Collecting Your Stool Sample
To ensure the results are accurate, know how to collect a stool sample. Your healthcare provider will provide you with instructions to collect the sample. You usually have a collection container provided, and that should be contaminant-free with urine, water, or toilet paper.
Instructions on how to collect your specimen:
1. Collect a stool specimen using a clean container available with the laboratory.
2. Avoid contamination of the specimen through substances such as water from the toilet or urine.
3. The specimen container is tightly sealed right after it is collected and returned to the laboratory for processing and analysis.
Key Metrics in a Stool Test Report
Once the analysis of your sample is complete, you will receive a stool test report in that detail about what's present in your stool. The following are the key metrics usually found in a stool test report and what they mean:
1. Fecal Occult Blood (FOB)
The fecal occult blood test (FOBT) detects hidden blood in the stool. The fact is, blood in stool may not always be immediately noticed by naked eye but presence could suggest gastrointestinal problems such as colon cancer, ulcers, or polyps.
- Positive FOBT: This simply indicates that blood in stool was present. You must visit your doctor since blood in stool may be a symptom of colon cancer or may indicate something even worse.
- Negative FOBT: Blood was not detected, and in most cases, this usually means there is no presence of gastrointestinal bleeding; however, you might need further testing when the symptoms persist.
2. Stool Culture
A stool culture is prescribed to diagnose infection-producing bacteria, such as Salmonella, E. coli, or Clostridium difficile. Presence of certain bacteria in your stool brings a possibility of digestive symptoms-which may include diarrhea, cramping, and fever.
- Positive stool culture: This indicates the presence of an infection. The patient should receive antibiotics or another appropriate drug to curtail the infection.
- Negative stool culture: This results in a conclusion that no disease-producing bacteria were isolated from the stool sample.
3. Parasites and Eggs
Other very common tests involved in stool test report are checks for the presence of parasites and their eggs. This will help diagnose infections by parasites, for instance, the ones that are caused by Giardia or by Entamoeba histolytica, which can cause problems in the digestive tract.
- Presence of parasites: If the parasite or its eggs are positive, your doctor will prescribe medication to get rid of the infection.
- Parasite test negative: There were no parasites detected, so parasitic infection can be eliminated as the culprit behind your illness.
4. pH Level
This test can indicate malabsorption or fermentation problems through your stool pH. Should your stool pH be low, it may mean that you are not absorbing carbohydrates and that there is a problem with your intestines.
- Abnormal pH: If the pH is outside the expected range, there could be malabsorption syndromes, lactose intolerance, or bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.
5. Fecal Fat Test
This test measures the amount of fat in your stool. The physician may diagnose malabsorption conditions like celiac disease or chronic pancreatitis, in which the body cannot absorb fats properly.
- Presence of fecal fat: This indicates malabsorption of fats. The diet or the underlying cause may require some alteration.
- Fecal fat absent: It implies that fat absorption is normal.
What Do the Test Results Mean?
The results of the test on your stool depend on the type of test done or what your doctor wants you to look for. The following are important things to take note in interpreting your stool test result:
They include the following:
- Infections: Found presence of bacteria, viruses, and even parasites; this would mean there could be an infection that needs some form of treatment.
- Blood in the stool: Even if blood is present in stools but not visible to naked eye observation, one may want to suspect ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, or even colorectal cancer.
- Malabsorption: High fat levels in stool could mean a disorder of malabsorption, which also needs further studies with treatment.
- Inflammatory markers: An increased white blood cell count in your feces may be indicative of inflammation or infection in the digestive system.
Do not forget to discuss the meaning of your stool test results with your doctor and the future course of your treatment.
What Diseases Does a Stool Test Diagnose?
A stool test is designed to detect the following diseases among others:
Colon cancer: The fecal occult blood test is the most common test used in screening colon cancer, by detecting secret blood in stool.
Gastrointestinal infections: Stool tests can detect bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections.
IBD or Inflammatory bowel disease: Various markers in stool may point to the condition such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
- Malabsorption syndromes: A stool fat test can be used to detect malabsorption disorders, usually due to other conditions like celiac disease or chronic pancreatitis.
Do I Need a Stool Test?
You may require a stool test if you are experiencing symptoms that call for an attention concerning your digestive system or infection, such as:
- Diarrhea for more than a few days
- Blood in the stool
- Pain in the abdominal region that is unexplained
- Recent, unintended weight loss
- Chronic constipation
- Symptoms of possible infection (fever, diarrhea, etc.)
Your doctor may recommend a stool test as a preventive measure for colon cancer if you belong to the high-risk age group or you have a history of such cases in your family, especially if you are more than 50 years old, or a close relative has ever suffered from this disease.
Preparation for a Stool Test
Pre-testing preparations should be heeded as communicated by your healthcare provider. Here are general guidelines:
- Other considerations to be avoided before the test: Some medications like aspirin, iron supplements, blood thinners, must be avoided.
- Certain diet factors: Do not take foods that would affect the result, such as red meat if it is an occult blood test.
- Hydration level: Drink plenty of water but avoid alcohol intake before the test.
How to Take a Stool Sample
Proper collection of the stool sample ensures accuracy in the results. Generally, you should:
1. Obtain the stool collection container provided by the laboratory.
2. You should not allow contact between urine, water, or toilet paper with your stool.
3. Seal the container and store in a cool place if required.
4. Bring back the stool sample to the laboratory according to your physician's instruction.
Care and Treatment After the Stool Test
Depending on the test results, your doctor will then recommend the treatment or further tests to be done.
Any infection would result in your doctor prescribing antibiotics or antiparasitics. Suspected malabsorption or inflammation will require more tests in order to uncover the cause of this; it is either through endoscopy or imaging.
For serious findings such as colon cancer, your doctor may request a colonoscopy or other procedures in order to confirm the diagnosis and plan treatment.
Conclusion
It is highly crucial for a person to know what his/her stool test report means and what he or she needs to do next in order to spot and handle various digestive conditions.
Whether it would use it in order to screen for diseases such as colon cancer, infection, or diagnosis of malabsorption disorders, it is a very important indicator of what is happening with your gut.
Discuss your results with your doctor; that way, you get to better understand what your condition entails and get the appropriate treatment and care. Proper preparation and proper collection of the stool sample will ensure accuracy in results. This will allow you to know exactly what is going on inside your body.
Medical Disclaimer - The following information is for educational purposes only. No information provided on this website, including text, graphic, and images, are intended as substitutes for professional medical advice. Please consult with your doctor about specific medical advice pertaining to your condition(s).
