Examination of feces can be requested by the doctor to evaluate the digestive functions, amount of fat in the feces or eggs of parasites, being useful to know how is the health of the individual. Here's what stool color can tell you about your health by clicking on: How to Understand the Color of Stools.
The material for the examination may be stored in the refrigerator depending on the examination to be done but the laboratory may clarify this doubt. In the case of parasitological examination and occult blood research the stool can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Occult Blood Testing
This test is used to evaluate small amounts of blood in the stool that may not be seen with the naked eye. This test is indicated for the screening of colon cancer, bowel cancer and possible bleeding into the digestive system.
If there is a suspicion of intestinal cancer, check out the cancer symptoms that may be present.
Main types of stool examination
The main types are:
- Parasitological stool examination : It is useful for the detection of parasites and protozoa, and is useful for identifying intestinal worms. In this case laxatives or suppositories can not be used before collecting the stool, and the container should be kept in the refrigerator. If you suspect you have a worm, check out the Worm Symptoms.
- Stool tests Coproculture : Stool should be placed in a suitable container and sent to the laboratory within 24 hours, the patient should not use laxatives and the stool container should be kept in the refrigerator;
- Hidden Blood Research : Stool should be sent to the laboratory no later than the next day and kept in the refrigerator. Avoid collecting the stool in case of anal bleeding, nasal bleeding or gingiva during tooth brushing;
- Rotating Virus Scan : Stool, preferably when liquid, should be collected at any time of the day and taken to the laboratory within 1 hour.
The minimum amount of stool required for testing should be equivalent to half of the container.
How to collect stool
Faecal collection should be done with care so that there is no contamination with urine or water in the toilet. For collection it is necessary to:
- Evacuate in the potty or on a sheet of white paper placed on the bathroom floor;
- Collect a little stool with a little flower (that comes next to the pot) and put it inside the jar;
- Write the full name on the bottle and store in the refrigerator for 24 hours until it is taken to the laboratory.
Check out these tips in the following video:
The procedure is simple and should be the same for adults, infants and children. Being that when the patient uses diapers the collection should be done soon after the evacuation.
Another way to collect stool more easily is to buy a kind of sterile plastic bag that covers 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 stool, and is especially useful for people with reduced mobility and who can not crouch to crouch in a pot or a newspaper, for example.
The bag is called ColOff and can be purchased in pharmacies and the internet with the approximate price of 5 reais. Whoever takes the exam at the Israelita Albert Einstein hospital receives the pot, the bag and the instructions for use to make the collection at home.
