Few people know that the analysis of feces can show unreliable results if the rules for its collection are neglected, and, therefore, this will certainly affect the diagnosis and the effectiveness of the course of treatment. Many people still do not suspect how important it is to take a responsible approach to the choice of sterile containers for feces and to correctly collect the necessary material so that the laboratory assistant can accurately determine all the necessary indicators.
How to collect feces correctly?
If you want a diagnosis based on the results of stool analysis to be reliable, then you should familiarize yourself with the rules for taking material and strictly adhere to them. How to properly collect feces for analysis?
1 First of all, it should be understood that the material delivered to the laboratory should be obtained only as a result of natural defecation. It is forbidden to use any methods and preparations to speed up the process. Therefore, forget about the existence of enemas, rectal suppositories and laxatives. As a result of their use, both the composition of the feces and their quality indicators change. At the same time, the remains of food do not pass their way in a natural way, this process is significantly accelerated, which means they are not digested as expected. The use of laxatives should be discontinued no later than three before stool collection.
2 It is undesirable to donate to the laboratory feces that were collected the day before, namely more than 4-5 hours ago. And the thing is that some microorganisms live exclusively in fresh feces, so they may not be found in old material, which will certainly affect the reliability of the result. If collecting the morning feces does not come out, then evening material is allowed, however, laboratory technicians should be warned about this feature.
3 A few days before the tests, you should stop taking any medications and refuse to conduct an X-ray examination, since these factors can significantly distort the results.
4 It is extremely important to follow the principles of dietary nutrition before taking tests. Some food products can affect the analysis result. These include beets, coffee, cabbage, legumes and other foodstuffs that can increase gas production, color stool, or cause constipation or diarrhea.
5 Women should postpone testing if they coincide with monthly bleeding. If this is not possible, then it is necessary to use a tampon to exclude the ingress of bloody discharge into the material for analysis.
As you can see, all the rules are quite simple and feasible. Observing them, you can be sure that the result of the analysis will be as reliable as possible.
Types of stool tests
There are several types of examination of feces, depending on the purpose of the study:
Stool tests include:
1 coprogram - a cumulative description of the physical, chemical and microscopic examination of feces;
2 study of feces for the presence of helminth eggs and enterobiasis;
3 analysis of feces for the content of lamblia.
Stool biochemical analyzes are divided into:
1 study of feces for blood impurities;
2 examination of feces for the content of the pancreatic enzyme - trypsin.
Bacteriological analysis of feces consists of the following studies:
1 TANK culture of feces per intestinal group;
2 analysis of feces for microflora imbalance.
In our article, we will consider in detail the types of study of feces in childhood, as well as the rules for taking feces for maximum reliability of the result.
The procedure for collecting material, how to collect feces for analysis?
It is necessary to collect feces for analysis in a certain way. In the morning, during the act of defecation, approximately 5-20 grams should be taken from the total mass of feces. It is very convenient to do this using a special spoon, which is equipped with a sterile test jar. The feces must be fresh and free of impurities. The selected material must be placed in a jar, tightly closed and signed with your data, after which the feces are transferred to the hands of a laboratory assistant who will analyze its properties.
Stool analysis, which allows you to assess the work of the digestive system, is called a coprogram. It allows you to assess diagnose:
1 disturbances in the functioning of the digestive tract, liver, pancreas and intestines;
2 inflammatory processes in the digestive tract;
3 imbalance of intestinal microflora;
4 presence of helminths.
How should feces be donated?
It is necessary to donate material for analysis only in a sterile container. It is best to use special jars for this, which can be purchased at any pharmacy. In such conditions, the material is able to survive better and the result will not be distorted by microorganisms that have got in from the outside.
When is it advisable to take feces for analysis?
In addition to complying with the rules for taking material for analysis, it is equally important to deliver it to the laboratory on time. Experts recommend bringing your morning feces no later than 8-9 hours.
How to store feces for analysis correctly?
Many people do not have a bowel movement early in the morning, in which case it is allowed to collect the stool the night before and store it properly before passing it on to the technician. The material must be placed in a sterile container and refrigerated. If these conditions are met, feces can be stored for no more than 20 hours, during which all microorganisms will remain viable.
It is quite easy to correctly collect material for analysis. At the same time, you can be sure that compliance with all conditions is a guarantee of obtaining a reliable research result.
Analysis of feces for coprogram - what is it, what it shows
Coprogram or, in other words, a general analysis of feces allows you to diagnose abnormalities in the work of many internal organs, therefore, this study is prescribed to identify deviations from the norm typical for certain diseases, for example:
1 colitis of various etiology;
2 dysbiosis;
3 inflammatory processes and more.
Stool analysis for a coprogram is not carried out without the presence of certain indications, only if the patient complains of stool disorders, constipation, increased gas production or pain in the abdomen.
General analysis of feces, what is it, what does it show?
The study of feces allows you to identify:
1 Deviation from the norm in the amount of stercobilin, a bile pigment that is formed in the large intestine during the processing of bilirubin. It is thanks to him that feces acquire a natural brown color.
2 Malfunctions of the digestive glands. The result of the analysis is a certain number of advantages that the laboratory assistant puts in front of such indicators as fatty inclusions, undigested muscle fibers, fiber residues, starch. Depending on the amount of these constituents, the doctor can determine the degree of disturbance in the digestive process.
3 The presence of an inflammatory process, which may be signaled by the presence of impurities of pus, blood or mucus. The more plus signs opposite these indicators the laboratory assistant puts, the more serious the patient's condition.
4 The presence of a large number of leukocytes. Normally, in a healthy person, they can be found in single copies, but if their number exceeds normal indicators, then this may indicate the development of an inflammatory process.
5 Presence of red blood cells in feces. If they are present, the patient is most likely to have one of the following ailments: polyps, anal fissures, ulcerative lesions of the large intestine, and others.
6 Detection in feces of intestinal epithelium - cells that line the intestinal mucosa. Normally, there may be a minimum amount, this happens due to the process of physiological desquamation.
7 The presence of helminths, as well as their eggs. In a healthy person, they should not be present in the feces.
The analysis of feces for the coprogram is carried out within one working day. If the patient is undergoing treatment with the use of any drugs, he must definitely inform the doctor about this, because the interpretation of the research results depends on this.
Analysis of feces for lamblia
The indications for this examination in childhood are allergic rashes for no apparent reason, low body weight and disturbances in the functioning of the digestive tract. The feces for analysis must be fresh, no older than two hours, so it is advisable to collect it in the afternoon and deliver it to the laboratory as soon as possible. Evening feces, even stored in the refrigerator, are completely uninformative. You will be more likely to find lamblia if you test the feces from the last portion and mucus (if any).
Stool examination for the presence of lamblia is carried out during the day. In the absence of lamblia, the test result will be marked as negative. However, for a more reliable result, it is recommended to conduct at least three such studies.
Fecal occult blood test
Latent blood is called blood to the feces, which does not change its color and cannot be detected by macro- and microscopic methods. The analysis of feces for the presence of occult blood allows you to diagnose pathologies of the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, which provoke internal bleeding and cause the patient to feel a sense of general weakness.
Subject to all the rules of preparation for the study, the laboratory will be able to detect even minimal disturbances in the work of the digestive system. The preparatory stage should begin no later than three days before the delivery of feces for analysis. First of all, it is necessary to completely exclude from the diet dishes with fish, meat and tomatoes, which will eliminate a false positive result. In addition, it is forbidden to put enemas and take any medications that affect intestinal motility or that can stain feces.
Stool analysis for disgroup, bacteriological analysis, culture
This study is carried out if there is a suspicion of dysentery, salmonellosis or intestinal coli infection. In addition, the study of feces for a disgroup is carried out by people who have come into contact with the sick or went with them to the same public institution.
Analysis of feces for worm eggs - what is it, what it shows
This analysis is mandatory when a child enters a kindergarten or after a long absence from a preschool institution. In addition, the study of feces for the presence of helminth eggs must be taken before going to school, swimming pool or children's camp. The research is carried out within one working day, and the certificate can be used no later than ten days from the date of its receipt, otherwise a second analysis will be required.
How to properly prepare for stool delivery?
In order for the result of the analysis to be as reliable as possible, the patient needs to properly prepare for it. Preparation begins a few days before collecting the material and, as a rule, does not present any difficulties. The main condition for the delivery of feces for research is that the process of defecation should not be stimulated with an enema or medications, otherwise the analysis will not be reliable.
The fact is that the acceleration of natural defecation will certainly affect the quality indicators of feces, which will prevent the correct diagnosis from being established. For example, poorly formed feces may contain a large number of starch and fat, which is a consequence of pancreatitis. However, the diagnosis may well be erroneous, because in the case of natural defecation, the patient's feces may not contain these components.
It should be remembered that the use of laxatives must be excluded at least three days before the collection of material for the study, in this case the results of the study will be as accurate as possible. If the patient is taking any medications that affect the functioning of the digestive tract, then it is imperative to warn the attending physician about this. Most likely, they will need to be temporarily abandoned.
In addition, an X-ray examination of the gastrointestinal tract can also affect the reliability of the result, which is why feces should be taken for analysis no earlier than two days after it was carried out. A few days before collecting material for analysis, the patient should revise his diet in favor of dairy products, seasonal fruits and vegetables, cereals and eggs. The ban includes dishes that contribute to the appearance of flatulence, diarrhea or constipation, as well as those foodstuffs that can color the feces.
How to collect feces for a calogram correctly?
The collection of feces for analysis, regardless of the purpose of the study, must be carried out observing all the rules, otherwise the result may be unreliable. These rules apply not only to adults, but also to newborn babies. First, you need to purchase a special sterile container at the pharmacy, or find a suitable jar at home and thoroughly wash and heat it.
It is much more convenient to use a ready-made sterile container, since it is equipped with a special spatula, which is very convenient for taking material from the total mass. You should not take feces for analysis from one place, because its components may be unevenly distributed. It is better to separate a small amount in several places. For example, helminth eggs are often localized only in a certain place, while the rest of the feces will be clean.
If there are obvious blood or mucus impurities, they must be placed in a container for analysis. This will allow the most reliable diagnosis of various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Distortion of the analysis results can also be provoked by urine that has got into the feces, therefore experts recommend emptying it in advance bladder... Women during menstrual bleeding should take all precautions so that the discharge does not enter the feces.
09/29/2017 / Heading: / Mari no comments
As an adult, a person has to know and be able to do many things. These actions will not always be pleasant, but they are necessary. One of these cases is the collection of feces from one's own or from a child for analysis. Let's discuss how to properly collect feces.
General rules for collecting feces for analysis
Why have rules and instructions been created in a seemingly such a simple matter? Collect feces for analysis, which could be easier, you think, and you will be right and wrong at the same time. The accuracy of following the rules in this matter depends on how many times you will do this not the most pleasant procedure for collecting a sample, retake the analysis (which means wasting time, and maybe money) and the error of the result.
We list the general rules that are important to follow when preparing for the analysis of feces and when collecting it:
- Net capacity.
- The fresher the feces, the better.
- Only a spontaneous act of defecation.
- Diet before collecting analysis.
- Refusal to take medications a few days before collecting feces.
- Avoid various impurities.
Let's consider each point in more detail. Finding a container for stool analysis is not a problem now. You can use a special sterile container with a spoon bought at the pharmacy, or you can get the same container (usually free of charge) at the laboratory in which you are going to take the test.
Alternatively, you can use an ordinary small glass or plastic jar with a well-screwed lid, no more than 50 ml in volume. Such a jar must be carefully prepared: wash it with laundry soap, rinse it many times with plain clean water. Then pour over boiling water and dry. Such actions will be enough to cleanse it.
Disinfectants must not be used. The container must be 1/3 full with feces, and be sure to screw the lid tightly.
The next point tells us that it is better to donate freshly collected feces. If you manage to be patient until the morning, then empty your intestines on the morning trip to the toilet, collect a sample and deliver it to the laboratory.
But what to do for those who do not “go big” every day or are not sure that they will be able to collect it just before taking it? In fact, yesterday's feces are no worse. Only it must be stored in a refrigerator at a temperature of +3 to +8, in order, firstly, to spare the sense of smell of laboratory workers, and secondly to avoid the development of fungal spores, which sometimes complicate diagnosis (they may look like protozoan cysts).
You don't need to freeze your stool if you can't get it to the lab day in and day out for analysis. Fresh feces for analysis are needed only in isolated cases: to check for hymenolepiasis and amoebic dysentery.
Important! We remember. To check for worms, for dysbiosis, for lamblia, for occult blood, for a coprogram, it is permissible to use feces collected yesterday.
It is necessary to prepare for the study of feces, and observe a certain diet.
A few days (approximately 3-5) before the test, exclude any alcohol and foods that will enhance fermentation in the intestines. For instance:
- lactic acid products (yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream, kefir, yogurt, fermented baked milk and others);
- carbonated drinks and juices (energy, Sprite, Coca-Cola, Mirida, etc.);
- legumes (beans, lentils, peas);
- any bakery products;
- yeast products (kvass, cheese, pastry);
- some fruits (grapes, apples, pears, peaches).
Also, 3-5 days before the study of feces, you need to stop using any laxatives and rectal suppositories. If a couple of days before the test, you underwent an X-ray of the digestive organs, and accordingly took barium, then you should wait a few more days so that its intake does not affect the result of the feces test.
As mentioned above, the feces must be collected after a voluntary act of defecation, that is, you cannot use an enema and other aids.
An important condition is the absence of urine, menstrual blood and other genital secretions in the collected sample. Therefore, a woman is advised to postpone the date of the test if she has started her period. If such an analysis is urgently needed, then use tampons.
A special diet requires an analysis of feces for occult blood, which shows whether there is asymptomatic bleeding in the digestive organs and their departments. 3-4 days before collecting the analysis, you need to exclude from your diet all foods that contain iron: meat, liver, tuna, apples, raisins, bell peppers, buckwheat, beans and others. You also need to stop taking iron medications.
Important! When buying a container from a pharmacy, pay attention to the fact that it must be in a closed sachet, which means its sterility.
Collecting a sample for research
When you are ready for the analysis: you bought a sterile container, abandoned all medications and followed a diet, it's time to start collecting the feces. Collecting feces directly from the toilet is strongly discouraged, because water from it or urine can get into the sample. How to be? There are several ways to collect adult feces:
- take a dry, washed container, having defecated into it and collecting a sample, shake out the remains of feces from the container into the toilet, and throw it out. This method is convenient if the person does not have a chair.
- peeing in the toilet, you can take toilet paper, roll it up several times. As soon as the act of defecation begins, substitute your hand with a piece of paper, “catch a piece” and place it in a special container;
- after peeing in the toilet, pull cling film over it, defecate, collect a stool sample. Remove all residues from cling film, wrap it in a bag and throw it away.
It will be more convenient to collect feces from a child from a pot, onto which it can be transplanted from the toilet, as soon as he pees into it, or by the methods described above.
The sample volume is the same for both an adult and a child, approximately two full spoons included with the stool sample container.
If you are very squeamish, then when buying sterile containers, bring also disposable gloves, and maybe a medical mask.
Children's affairs
As we can see, it is not so difficult to collect a sample for the study of feces, and comply with all the conditions. But how to collect the feces of a newborn, which poops when you want, and not when you need to be tested? Naturally, the easiest and best way is to let the baby defecate in the diaper, and then collect the sample with a special plastic spoon into a container.
Of course, it is better to wait until the baby poops profusely, otherwise you will have to scrape the feces out of the diaper, which is unacceptable. Since the sample will contain substances that retain urine in the diaper, and the urine itself, and particles of the diaper tissue.
If you know for sure that the baby will poop immediately after having eaten, then you do not need to wear a disposable diaper. Place an oilcloth and a diaper under it, and after toiletry, collect the fecal mass in a container.
Feces in babies (age from 4 weeks to a year) may become more formalized by the year. But it is also easier to collect a sample from a diaper than to make the incomprehensible baby poop in a pot.
If your toddler is having problems with bowel movements, massage the tummy gently to encourage bowel movement.
As a rule, the study of feces is one of the first analyzes that a pediatrician prescribes. Such analyzes are very informative, so do not refuse them, even if you are very squeamish.
Many people do not know the correct preparation procedure, much less how feces are collected for research. There are no particular difficulties in this, everything is very easy, you just have to adhere to a few rules.
In order to collect analyzes, the following attributes are required:
- 1 Sterile container for collecting material. It is usually obtained from a pharmacy. Before starting the collection of the test, it is worth making sure that the container is clean and completely dry.
- 2 A special spatula or stick for collecting the prescribed amount of faeces.
A plastic or glass vessel can act as a container, but at the same time it must be hermetically closed. Make sure that the cover is free from manufacturing defects and has no holes or cracks. You can use a small glass jar, but it’s safer to get a special container from a pharmacy stall. Usually, containers that are designed for collecting stool samples have a built-in bacillus. It is attached to the lid of the vessel.
Laboratory tests require a certain amount of feces for a full study, it is 10-15 ml of feces. This is approximately 2 tsp.
Basic rules before research
Every adult should adhere to the basic rules before passing any medical tests.
- 1 Feces for analysis must be fresh. Before going to a medical institution, it is advisable to collect morning tests.
- 2 It is never necessary to mix several samples in one container, this is unacceptable in laboratory research.
- 3 Before donating feces, you need to limit yourself in the amount of food you eat. Overeating is unacceptable.
- 4 Before submitting feces for research, exclude the use of all kinds of medications.
Always and under all circumstances, it is worth adhering to the above rules, because they are quite simple to execute. Compliance with them will allow you to get correct results and eliminate all kinds of errors.
Faeces collected in the early morning are the best material for research. In the absence of the possibility of delivery of morning excrement, you can collect evening material, but it is mandatory to store it in a cold place and no more than 11-12 hours. Remember that sterility and accuracy are considered important points when collecting an analysis. This affects the end result of the research.
Pay attention to the container in which the material for research will be stored: it must meet all the criteria for sterility and cleanliness. Pre-urinate and wash yourself with antiseptics.
For adult women, in whom the moment of collecting feces coincided with the menstrual period, it is not recommended to take tests, it is better to postpone this study, since menstrual blood can get into the material. Well, if the situation is urgent and the delivery of the analysis cannot be postponed, then you should use a tampon and thoroughly rinse the genitals from the menstrual blood in order to avoid it getting into the test material.
To make the process of collecting material for laboratory research sterile, it is worth using pre-prepared dishes. This can be a sterile and cleanly washed jar, vessel, pot, or other convenient vessel. Also for these purposes, you can use plastic wrap, which is attached to the surface of the toilet bowl.
Try to follow all the advice of doctors, because this will allow them to make the correct diagnosis in the shortest possible time.
The main advice is diet. This is due to the fact that all food eaten before the collection of material can negatively affect the final results. This is especially true for products that can cause functional upset of the gastrointestinal tract.
If you are faced with a similar situation and have eaten forbidden foods, then it is possible that feces can change their natural and normal shade.
Knowing how to properly collect the test material, you can eliminate the risk of getting a negative result.
Any medical procedure must be carried out in accordance with certain rules, on the observance of which its effectiveness depends. Intramuscular injections are made under aseptic conditions so as not to infect, the tablets are taken in accordance with the treatment regimens in order to prevent drug overdose, and so on. For some reason, patients believe that all these subtleties should be known and observed by the medical staff, and they do not concern patients. The only rule known to most is that blood must be donated on an empty stomach. Nevertheless, even the delivery of feces for research is carried out after some preparation and in accordance with a number of important instructions.
Five general rules for donating feces
1. The sample obtained for analysis must be obtained as a result of spontaneous defecation, that is, without enemas and taking laxatives. The first is 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 in natural conditions. For example, undigested food debris, fats, starch and other components may be found in, on the basis of which a specialist has reason to suspect, for example, pancreatitis.
However, some researchers note that a sample obtained with the help of laxatives sometimes better demonstrates the presence of lamblia: they are washed out of the duodenum and quickly enter the feces, without having time to mutate and die in the lower parts of the digestive tract.
2. The fresher the stool sample, the better. Optimally, from the delivery of feces to the moment when it gets to the laboratory, 4-6 hours should pass. This is not an absolute criterion, just over time, the composition of the stool, primarily microbiological, can change, which can affect the results.
Unfortunately, laboratories for receiving analyzes are open only at certain hours in the morning. In most medical institutions, they are accepted from 8 to 10 in the morning. This somewhat complicates the task, because there are people who are accustomed to going to the toilet exclusively in the evening, and some children, in general, cannot be forced to sit on the potty after waking up by any forces and tricks. What to do? If you have enough time, you can experiment and try to be patient with the next bowel movement until the morning, it does not work - turn in the latest possible evening portion and take it right after the laboratory is opened. Even a sample like this is better than nothing.
3. Before donating feces, a correct healthy diet should be followed for 2-3 days. do not eat too many foods that can cause gas, diarrhea or constipation. Also, do not eat beets and other foods that can affect the color of the feces.
4. If possible, stop taking certain medications on the eve of collecting the sample: activated carbon (gives feces a black color), bismuth (also affects the color), rectal suppositories (change its composition), pilocarpine (acts on peristalsis). Also, within 2 days before the delivery of feces, it is not worthwhile to carry out X-ray contrast studies of the digestive organs (barium passage, irrigoscopy): barium sulfate, which patients take at the same time, gives the feces a white color and violates its composition.
5. For women during menstruation, it is advisable to avoid the delivery of feces. If necessary, use a swab to prevent blood from entering the sample.
From theory to practice
Hopefully, all the above rules are clear, simple and will be taken into account. And now let's decide how the procedure for collecting feces should look like.
Before collection, you must first urinate and thoroughly wash the perineum with warm water and soap, and then dry thoroughly. Contact with both urine and water is highly undesirable. Many people neglect hygiene, believing that the feces itself is "dirty", and excess microbes from the skin surface will definitely not harm the results. However, together with microbes, chemical components from linen and clothes 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 boat or, if the patient is a child, a pot. But what if the boat is not at home, as in most families? Some people “donate” feces to the toilet, if the design allows it, and then take a sample from there. However, this is undesirable, since the toilet is not ideal cleanliness. You can offer an alternative - to pull cling film on the toilet seat, comfortably do your business on it and collect a sample; many do just that.
The sample is collected in a clean sealed container, glass or plastic. By volume, you need to take stool about a teaspoon. Then the dishes are corked and taken to the laboratory.
Special instructions for passing some tests
Before delivery, for 3-4 days before the study, it is necessary to abandon products containing iron, primarily meat and offal. Also, at this time, invasive interventions on the gastrointestinal tract (gastroscopy, colonoscopy) are not performed, and on the day before the analysis, you even need to refuse to brush 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 feces.
A stool sample intended for research on dysbiosis () should be collected not just in a clean, but in a sterile container. Microbes from contaminated walls can enter the sample and interfere with the results.
When collecting, it is better to make the sample a little larger than it is supposed to, and collect it from several places, rather than taking "a single block".
If you have to take a stool test, make sure that you have prepared for the study properly and have not violated any of the listed rules. And, let their observance seem to you a difficult and dreary business, do not forget that this is a guarantee of obtaining correct results, that is, you are acting in your own interests.
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