STOOL MICROSCOPY, CULTURE AND SENSITIVITIES TEST (MCS)

You will provide
Stool Sample

This test is for both
Male, Female

Test Preparation
No specified preparation needed

OVERVIEW

What is Stool Microscopy?

The stool microscopy is an examination of stool sample slide under a regular microscope. This test assists to diagnose conditions affecting the digestive tract which consist of infections from bacteria, viruses, or parasites.

Why is Stool microscopy performed?

The stool microscopy is performed:

If you have symptoms suggesting infection of the digestive tract such as lingering diarrhea, ache in the stomach, not having of appetite, and fever

If there is a feeling of parasitic infection in the intestine like the amoeba, giardia, etc.

To examine for colon cancers by checking the existence of occult (hidden) blood

To monitor for weak absorption of nutrients through the digestive tract (malabsorption syndromes)

What does Stool microscopy Measure?

The stool microscopy is carried out by means of taking gathered sediment of fresh or formalin preserved stool accompanied through drying the slide to make the specimen dry. It is then set with the reagents and stained with multiple stains. After the staining process is fully done, the slide is examined underneath the microscope at different fields to detect protozoan trophozoites and cysts and for affirmation of any other species. Depending upon what species is seen, the reporting of the stool slide is made.

INTERPRETING STOOL MICROSCOPY RESULTS

High degrees of fat in the stool can also be induced by diseases such as pancreatitis, celiac disease, or different issues that affect the absorption of fats

Presence of ova in the stools point out that there are parasites in the GIT

Blood in the stool may as well be caused as a result of bleeding in the digestive tract as in colon cancer

White blood cells in the stool may as well be due to irritation of the intestines such as ulcerative colitis

Rotaviruses are a common reason for diarrhea in young children. If diarrhea is present, testing may also be performed to check for rotaviruses in the stool

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’s)

Q. How do I have to gather my stool sample?

Urinate before taking the stool. Put on gloves before collecting your stool. Pass stool into a dry container. Place the lid over the container, label it with your own name and take or send it to the lab.

Q. How is a stool specimen examined?

The stool specimen is kept in formalin. It can be directly examined by methods like wet mount, immunoassay, chromotrope stain, and UV fluorescence. The specimen can be concentrated also before testing.

Q. What are the other disease conditions that can motivate diarrhea?

Other than pathogenic bacteria, diarrhea can be induced by means of a viral contamination such as norovirus, a parasitic infection such asgiardiasis, food intolerance, medications (directly inducing diarrhea or not directly reducing by regular flora), bowel dysfunction (e.g., celiac disease, malabsorption, or inflammatory bowel disease). Diarrhea may as well be brought about or worsened through psychological stress.

Q. What are the risk factors of infective diarrhea?

The following patients are at risk of developing problems of infective diarrhea if they are very young (infants and toddlers), elderly patients, and patients with a low immune system.

Q. What could be the primary cause of infection of diarrhea?

Diarrhea is a food and water-borne disease. Pathogenic bacteria can enter and infect the digestive tract when any one consumes contaminated food or water. Examples of contaminated sources comprises raw or half cooked eggs, poultry or beef, unpasteurized milk and untreated water from lakes, streams, and from contaminated water supplies.

Q. What are the signs and symptoms of infective diarrhea?

The most common signs of a pathogenic bacterial infection are lingering diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, mucus in stool, stomach pain and cramps, and nausea. If diarrhea lasts for more than a few days, it may as well lead to complications such as dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which can be life-threatening,particularly in teens (children) and the elderly. Dehydration can as well be signs and symptoms such as dry skin, fatigue, and light-headedness. Severely affected persons may need hospitalization for fluid and electrolyte replacement. Complications of untreated infected diarrhea can encompass hemolytic uremic syndrome. This is a serious complication characterized by the destruction of red blood cells and kidney failure that can also occasionally occur from a contamination with a toxin-producing strain of the bacteria Escherichia coli. Hemolytic uremic syndrome is most regularly observed in children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.

Q. What should be done to prevent gastro-intestinal infection?

Several precautions can be exercised to keep away from gastrointestinal infections such as not drinking water or food that may have been infected, following healthy sanitation practices which comprise thorough and regular hand washing, cooking food that might be contaminated (e.g., as uncooked meat and eggs) thoroughly, averting unpasteurized dairy products, keeping off  from eating food from street vendors and cautious hand washing by everyone in the familyin case anybody near in contacts has an infection causing diarrhea. The man or woman infected has to not prepare food or drinks for others until the contamination is resolved.

Disclaimer: The information provided herein is for patient general knowledge only and should not be used during any medical emergency, for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Duplication for personal and commercial use must be authorized in writing by Surjen.com.