What not to do before donating stool. Preparatory steps for taking a stool test. How to collect stool and get tested for a child

There are diseases that can only be diagnosed using stool analysis. However, not everyone knows how to take a stool test correctly, despite the fact that everyone has encountered this more than once. This type of study is called a coprogram; it makes it possible to identify some diseases, including very serious ones.

Most often, a coprogram is prescribed for suspected ailments related to the functioning of the pancreas, biliary tract, stomach, liver and intestines. Patients undergo a stool test if the doctor needs to find out the cause of symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, frequent belching, lack of appetite and stomach pain. Thanks to this diagnostic method, it is always possible to accurately determine the disease and prescribe the most appropriate treatment.

Maintaining personal hygiene

Knowing how to properly take a stool test and following all the instructions, you can get the most accurate diagnosis. Stool testing begins at the stage of preparation for stool collection. All this is very important, since the wrong approach to coprogram will give unreliable results.

First of all, even before proceeding with the collection of feces, the patient must clean the bladder and carry out hygiene procedures in the genital area. They are washed thoroughly with soap, and after that the foam is washed off well with water. Then this area of ​​the body is wiped with a towel. All this is necessary to ensure that water and urine do not get into the container with feces. This is very important, since the presence of unnecessary elements in the test material can adversely affect the diagnostic results, and the doctor will not be able to prescribe the correct treatment.

When submitting stool for analysis, not everyone follows this rule, but it plays a huge role. It is wrong to believe that feces are inherently unclean, and therefore nothing can spoil them. The material intended for research can contain not only excess microorganisms from urine and running water, but also particles of chemicals, as well as remnants of fabric from underwear. Sometimes the stool that is submitted for coprogram may even contain washing powder that gets from the underwear onto the skin, and then into the stool. For this reason, hygiene procedures play a vital role in preparation for submitting stool for analysis.

In order to collect the material, you will need a very clean and completely dry container. You can use a potty if it is convenient, but first you need to wash and dry it. It is worth noting that not everyone keeps a potty at home, much less a duck. For this reason, many people collect feces for analysis directly from the toilet, if it has a design suitable for such manipulations.

This method may be convenient, but experts do not recommend using it. The toilet is not the cleanest place, no matter how mine. From here, various bacteria can get into the container with the research material, which will not make it possible to see an accurate picture of what is happening in the patient’s body. As a result, it will be very difficult to make a correct diagnosis.

As an alternative, you can use regular cling film. It is pulled onto the toilet seat, and after bowel movements, the feces are transferred to a special container prepared in advance.

The material for research is collected exclusively in a clean and dry container. It is best if it is made of glass or plastic. The lid of the jar should close tightly. For coprogram, 5 g of feces is enough, which is equivalent to one incomplete tablespoon.

Rules of conduct and preparation for examination

Many patients believe that the rules of conduct and preparation for diagnostic procedures apply only to medical personnel. In fact, this is not so, because the person who takes the tests must take into account the requirements necessary to obtain the correct results.

For each analysis there are certain requirements that are mandatory. They need to begin to be observed a few days before the material for research begins to be collected. The doctor must warn the patient about all requirements in advance. For example, during any diagnostic procedure, it is allowed to take medications only according to the regimen established by a specialist. You cannot leave it, as this will affect the test results.

Many people know, but not everyone adheres to this rule, that blood from a finger and from a vein is donated only on an empty stomach. As a result, the effectiveness of research and treatment of the patient will not be at the highest level.

There are also certain rules for collecting and delivering stool to laboratory staff. They must be strictly followed in order to obtain the most correct results of this diagnostic procedure.

Collection of material for research

Everyone should know how to properly take a stool test and how much time is given to deliver the material to the laboratory. No more than 6 hours should pass between the collection of stool and the beginning of its examination, since exceeding the established limits will lead to the microbiological composition of the stool beginning to change, and this will negatively affect the test results.

The fresher the stool, the more accurate information the laboratory technician can give.

This rule is mandatory to follow, but for many patients it causes a lot of difficulties. Some people are used to visiting the toilet in the evenings, and if we are talking about small children, everything will be even more difficult, since getting them to sit on the potty in the morning before breakfast can be extremely problematic.

People who are used to going to the toilet in the evening can be advised to be patient. If there is no strength for this, then the laboratory must receive the freshest evening mass of material for research.

It is important to remember that taking special laxatives to obtain stool is not allowed.

When collecting stool for coprogram, an enema can be used no later than 3 days before collecting the material. Tablets are allowed no later than 2 days before the analysis. The reason for such a strict rule is that if the mass is formed unnaturally, it may contain too many remains of poorly digested food. This includes fats, starch and other elements. As a result, the doctor may mistakenly diagnose a patient with pancreatitis, which would not happen if stool was formed in the normal way.

Women should remember that during menstruation, blood may get into the research material. This cannot be allowed, so it is better not to take the test during menstruation. If this is not possible, you need to use a tampon.

Patients who undergo several tests at once must distribute everything so that the X-ray examination of the gastrointestinal tract does not coincide with the delivery of stool for coprogram. It is better that the time difference between stool analysis, irrigoscopy and barium passage be at least 2 days. The reason for this is simple: such diagnostic procedures use barium sulfate, which affects the color and composition of human stool.

As for medications, they can only be taken with the approval of a doctor. A few days before collecting material for research, you should stop taking medications that can affect the composition of stool and peristalsis. These medications include pilocarpine, activated charcoal, and rectal suppositories. Taking antibiotics is also not allowed.

To obtain the correct analysis, the patient must adhere to his normal diet. You should not go on a strict diet, as this will not allow you to find out the true causes of the disease. However, foods that can cause diarrhea or constipation are also not allowed. Including dishes containing natural dyes in the menu would not be the best option. We are talking about beets, red cabbage and spinach. They give stool an unusual color, making the task more difficult for the laboratory worker.

Features of the procedure for suspected various diseases

Depending on what illness the doctor suspects, the collection of stool for analysis will be somewhat different. If the purpose of the diagnostic procedure is to identify infectious agents in the intestines, the material must be collected in sterile containers. In this case, just a well washed and dried jar will not work. For such cases, pharmacies sell special kits for stool testing. Foreign microorganisms must not be allowed to enter, as they will distort the data. When it comes to testing stool for an infectious bowel disease, antibiotics are not allowed.

When collecting material to examine the mass for the presence of blood, you must adhere to a special diet for 3 days. At this time, foods containing too much iron are prohibited. We are talking about some fruits and vegetables, as well as meat products. It is not allowed to eat dishes with rabbit, chicken, turkey, heart, liver, tongue, lungs, ears, lamb, pork, veal, brains and stomachs. All of these products can significantly affect the composition of stool, making it impossible to determine occult blood in the mass.

For the most accurate result, you should not only adhere to dietary rules and stop taking medications. For some types of research, even brushing your teeth with toothpaste before collecting material is not allowed.

Diagnosis of helminthiasis

When donating stool to the human body, you should adhere to special rules regarding how to pass a stool test correctly. The features of this type of diagnosis can be seen even at the stage of collecting material for research. For example, feces need to be collected in smaller quantities than in other cases.

Collecting feces for analysis for the presence of worms is the most difficult, but also the most common. To collect the material, you need a clean and as dry container as possible with a lid. Feces should be donated immediately after collection, that is, after the morning bowel cleansing. If this option is not possible, you can collect the evening stool and then store it in the refrigerator for a while.

Collecting and donating feces for coprogram is not the most pleasant and convenient procedure. But this is necessary for diagnosing many serious diseases, so this procedure must be taken seriously and all rules and requirements must be followed. If you have questions regarding this procedure, you should consult a specialist. The doctor will tell you in detail about the features of taking a stool test for a specific situation.

Stool analysis has a medical name - coprogram. This study is an effective method for identifying various disorders in the pancreas, stomach, liver, gallbladder, small and large intestines.

The coprogram will help to find out the cause of:

• nausea and vomiting;
• flatulence;
• diarrhea;
• constipation;
• bloating;
• unpleasant belching;
• lack of appetite;
• pain in the abdominal area.

How to prepare for a stool test?

The preparatory stage is no less important than the actual collection of feces. Therefore, many people wonder how to take a stool test and how to properly prepare for this procedure.

1. First, it is worth noting that before collecting feces, it is necessary to urinate and perform hygiene procedures for the genitals using soap. Then you need to thoroughly dry the perineum with a towel. This will prevent urine and water from getting into your stool, which can cause inaccurate results.
2. Many people neglect this advice, believing that feces themselves are sewage, and microorganisms that get into them on the surface of the genitals and skin cannot in any way affect the result obtained. This is fundamentally wrong. After all, not only these microorganisms can get into the feces, but also particles of chemicals present on clothes and underwear. For example, particles of washing powder used to wash underwear.
3. To collect stool you will need a dry, clean container. For example, it could be a pot or a vessel. But not everyone has a “duck” or a pot in their house. Therefore, many people collect feces directly from the toilet, if its design, of course, allows this to be done. It must be said right away that the toilet is not a perfectly clean place, so collecting feces in this way is undesirable.
4. There is an alternative to collecting stool directly from the toilet. For these purposes, many use cling film, which is stretched over the toilet seat. After defecation, feces are collected in a prepared container.
5. Collect feces only in an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid. This container must be made of glass or plastic. In terms of quantity, about 5 g of stool (a full teaspoon) must be collected for analysis.

Rules for submitting a coprogram

Many people mistakenly believe that compliance with the conditions and rules for conducting a particular study concerns only medical personnel. But not everyone takes into account that this also applies to patients. When taking any test, certain requirements must be followed. For example, medications should be taken only according to the schedule, blood from a finger and vein should be taken on an empty stomach, and injection procedures should be carried out in sanitary conditions. The effectiveness of research and procedures depends on compliance with these rules.

As for submitting stool for research, such rules also exist for this procedure. They must be strictly observed. So, you should consider in detail how to properly take a stool test in order to get the most accurate results.

Rule #1

It is recommended to submit stool to the laboratory no later than 5-6 hours after collection. This is the optimal time period. If this period is exceeded, the microbiological composition of stool may change, which will affect the results of the analysis. That is, the fresher the stool submitted to the laboratory, the more accurate the results will be.
The difficulty may lie in the fact that almost all laboratories accept tests exclusively in the morning and only on certain days of the week. Some people are used to going to the toilet in the evenings, and small children cannot be forced to sit on the potty before breakfast with any tricks. How to be?
If such situations arise, it is recommended to try to endure it once without defecating in the evening, so that in the morning you have the opportunity to collect a fresh portion of feces. If you can’t bear it, then you should take the latest portion from the evening stool and take it to the laboratory in the morning.

Rule #2

Stool intended for analysis must be formed naturally. That is, feces must pass through the intestines in a certain time, during which it is formed properly. The use of laxatives and enemas to collect stool for examination is unacceptable. After all, the period of stay of feces in the intestines will be significantly reduced, which will prevent its natural formation and, accordingly, obtaining accurate coprogram results.

In addition, an enema can be given no later than 3 days before collecting stool for analysis. You can take laxatives no later than two days before the test.

As an example, we can cite a situation where a specialist, during a stool examination, may find food residues in its composition that have not been completely digested. These can be starches, fats and much more. Based on these signs, the specialist will identify the presence of pancreatitis in the patient. And if the test had been taken with the patient using laxatives, it would not have been possible to identify this disease during the test.

Rule #3

During menstruation, women should avoid submitting stool for testing. If there is an urgent need to do this, you need to use a tampon. This will prevent blood from getting into the stool.

Rule #4

For at least two days before submitting stool for analysis, it is necessary to refrain from conducting X-ray examinations of the gastrointestinal tract:

• irrigoscopy;
• barium passage.

The fact is that during these procedures a radiopaque substance such as barium sulfate is used. And it can not only discolor feces, but also significantly change its composition.

Rule #5

Also, three days before collecting stool for examination, it is not recommended to take medications that affect peristalsis, composition and color of stool. These drugs include:

• bismuth;
• Activated carbon;
• polycarpine;
• rectal suppositories.

Rule #6

It is recommended to follow a healthy diet for 3-4 days before collecting stool for testing. You should not abuse foods that contribute to constipation, diarrhea, and the formation of gas. Also, you should not eat foods that can change the color of stool, such as beets.

1. If stool is submitted for research, the purpose of which is to detect pathogens of intestinal infection in it, it must be collected not just in a clean and dry container, but in a specially prepared sterile container (container).
2. If you donate stool to detect the presence of “hidden” blood in its composition, you should not eat foods rich in iron for 3 days before the test. First of all, this applies to meat products and offal:

• rabbit, chicken, turkey;
• hearts;
• liver;
• language;
• lungs;
• ears;
• lamb, pork, veal;
• brains;
• ventricles.

3. If stool needs to be tested to detect worm eggs, it should be taken in slightly larger quantities than for other types of research. In addition, the feces must be collected from different places, and not from a single block.
4. On the day before collecting stool for analysis, it is better to refrain from brushing your teeth.
By adhering to the “simple” rules described above, you can safely submit stool for laboratory testing, which will allow you to obtain accurate results.

Stool analysis can reveal dysfunction of the intestinal tract, liver and pancreas. In correctly collected material, specialists will also be able to see the presence of eggs of various helminths, blood and bile acid. How to properly prepare your body and collect tests? There is nothing complicated in this procedure; it is enough to follow a few rules.

How to properly take a stool test - necessary materials

To collect feces we will need:

• Clean container.
• Stick or spatula.

The containers for storage and delivery can be anything, the main thing is that it is dry, clean and can be closed. Baby food jars, medicine bottles are suitable for these purposes, or you can purchase a convenient plastic container at any pharmacy.

How to take a stool test correctly

To obtain reliable results, you need to adhere to some rules:

• The sample for submission should only be obtained by natural voiding. The patient should not use enemas, suppositories, teas or laxatives for the final purpose.
• The day before, exclude from your diet foods that cause discoloration of stool, diarrhea or constipation. These include carrots, blueberries, beets, cabbage, dried apricots, and dairy products.
• X-ray contrast studies during which the patient takes barium sulfate are prohibited 2-3 days in advance. Because of this, stool changes its structure and acquires a white coating.
• It is better for women not to take tests during menstrual bleeding. But, if samples need to be taken urgently, then you need to prevent blood from getting into the stool by using a regular tampon.
• Immediately before collection, empty the bladder and wash the perineum with clean water and soap.
• Please note that feces should not come into contact with the surface of the toilet, otherwise they will quickly acquire a different composition. To avoid this, experts recommend placing a clean bag or plastic container in front of the anus during bowel movements. After this, you need to put on rubber gloves and transfer the sample (one teaspoon will be enough) into a container for delivery to the laboratory.
• You can collect a sample from a baby directly from a diaper or diaper. The main thing is that there are no drops of urine in the feces.

Indicate information about yourself on the containers for collecting samples - last name, first name, address.

How to take a stool test correctly - collection time and storage

The accuracy of the results is affected by the freshness of the collected material. Ideally, feces should be donated within 2 hours of a bowel movement. But, if due to circumstances this is not possible, the feces should be placed in an airtight container, sealed tightly and stored in the refrigerator. The sample is suitable for delivery within 10-12 hours after collection.

Where to take the collected stool test

The collected tests, which do not require special examination, are accepted for diagnosis at the clinic at the place of residence. You must first contact your local physician and get a referral. Reception of samples starts at 7.00 and continues until 9 – 10 am. Laboratory assistants work quickly, and within 3-4 hours you will be able to collect the final results from your doctor.

In addition to blood tests, people in white coats tend to ask patients about the composition of other substances.
Today you will learn how to properly take urine and stool tests.

Analysis of urine
General urine analysis- the most common in medical practice, along with a general blood test. But, despite this, most patients are not aware that before urinating in a jar, they need to wash the external genitalia (always towards the anus, and not away from it) and wipe dry with a clean linen napkin.

Neglect of hygiene, along with the use of dirty dishes or utensils made of unstable plastic, are the cause of the most common errors in analysis results.

As with a blood test, diet and medications can change the test result for the worse. After some medications or foods (for example, beets, vitamins), the color of the urine changes (who will tell the laboratory assistant about this?), and alcohol 24 hours before the test is strictly contraindicated. There is a known case when a patient who forgot to report alcoholic libations was sought to be taken to the hospital with suspected liver disease. The guy, who was sunbathing in Sochi at the time, became very nervous before the situation became clearer.

For general analysis, use the first morning portion of urine (the previous urination should be no later than 4-6 hours). Even if you forget to urinate in a jar for the twentieth time when you are asleep, you cannot fill it in the evening, otherwise the results will surprise not only you, but also the doctors.

The first few milliliters are drained past the container, the rest into a clean container, but not into a pot or vessel, the sterility of which cannot be guaranteed. In this case, you do not need to bring a liter jar to the laboratory for general analysis - laboratory assistants do not indulge in urine therapy, and 50-100 ml of urine is enough for analysis.

Collection of daily urine analysis
All urine, except morning urine, goes into a dark glass container; if there is none, then the material for analysis should be stored exclusively in a dark, cool place. Again, only 50-100 ml of liquid is sent to the laboratory, however, it is important to record its total amount.

By the way, incidents often happen with daily urine. So, pregnant women came to one laboratory more than once to check their sugar with urine for a routine analysis, after standing for 24 hours. The girls were firmly convinced that this was daily urine.

Urinalysis according to Nechiporenko
The middle portion of morning urine in the amount of 25-50 ml is analyzed, the first and last are poured into another container. This study requires particularly careful hygiene - it is prescribed when kidney disease is suspected and any “foreign” impurities can be misinterpreted. Mucus with leukocytes from the genital organs will end up in the jar, and the patient will be treated, for example, for pyelonephritis.

Stool analysis
Stool should be collected for examination in the morning. If this is difficult, you can prepare the sample in advance, but no more than 8 hours before submitting the stool to the laboratory. In this case, the sample should be stored in the refrigerator (do not freeze).

Thorough toileting of the external genitalia and anal area. Pre-urinate. Defecate in a dry, clean container: a vessel or a night vase. Transfer a stool sample of 3-5 cubic meters. cm in a pre-prepared clean, dry container for storage and transportation.

Feces for occult blood
The patient should not eat meat, fish, or tomatoes 3-5 days before the test (they can be replaced with dairy and cereal dishes). The patient should not brush his teeth. The material is collected on the fourth day in a clean, dry container for storage and transportation.

Here you can briefly dwell on what is not recommended to be done before collecting material:
Stool examinations should not be carried out earlier than 2 days after an enema, an X-ray examination of the stomach and intestines, or a colonoscopy.
Three days before the analysis, the doctor must stop medications that affect secretion, increase intestinal motility and change the color of stool (laxatives, enzyme preparations, barium, bismuth, iron preparations, kaolin, activated carbon and other sorbents, fat-based rectal suppositories);
If the diet is not specified separately, then it is not necessary to follow it, but holidays with feasts are not welcome
Do not allow urine or water into the sample.
Stool examinations should not be performed on women during menstruation.

***
Let me remind you that all the recommendations given are only suitable for routine examinations. If the situation is urgent (for example, you were taken by ambulance to the hospital with sound effects), then, if possible, you just need to tell the doctor about what may affect the reliability of the tests.

To make accurate diagnoses, doctors often prescribe blood, urine and stool tests. While almost every person has had to deal with the first two types, the procedure for taking the last analysis is not familiar to everyone. Having learned how to collect a stool sample for an adult, everyone will be able to cope with this task.

7 In what cases is a stool test prescribed?

The results of the coprogram are an important source of information about what processes occur in the human body. They help identify serious pathologies in the early stages and prevent the development of complications.

Basically, stool analysis is prescribed to identify diseases or abnormalities in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. If a patient has problems with the pancreas, liver, stomach or intestines, the doctor will need the results of a stool examination to make an accurate diagnosis.

Following simple recommendations on how to collect stool correctly will greatly facilitate the patient’s task, and he will be able to pass tests without problems the first time. Pregnant women are advised to consult their doctor about how to achieve natural bowel movements. Since many expectant mothers in the last months of pregnancy experience difficulties with bowel movements, they need to more carefully prepare for the study.