This MedLibrary.org supplementary page on Stool test is provided directly from the open source Wikipedia as a service to our readers. Please see the note below on authorship of this content, as well as the Wikipedia usage guidelines. To search for other content from our encyclopedia supplement, please use the form below:
Related Sponsors
A stool test is one where fecal matter is collected for analysis to diagnose the presence or absence of a medical condition.
Contents |
Fecal occult blood test
One of the most common stool tests, the Fecal occult blood test can be used to diagnose many conditions that cause in bleeding in the gastrointestinal system including Colorectal cancer or Stomach cancer.[1]
Microbiology tests
Parasitic diseases such as Ascariasis, Hookworm, Strongyloidiasis and Whipworm can be diagnosed by examining stools under a microscope for the presence of worm larvae or eggs. Some bacterial diseases can be detected with a stool culture. Toxins from bacteria such as Clostridium difficile ('C. diff.') can also be identified. Viruses such as rotavirus can also be found in stools.[2]
Chemical tests
A fecal pH test may be used determine lactose intolerance or the presence of an infection.[3] Steatorrhea can be diagnosed using a Fecal fat test that checks for the malabsorption of fat.[4]
See also
References
- ^ "Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)".
- ^ "Stool culture".
- ^ "Stool Acidity Test - MedicineNet.com".
- ^ "MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Fecal fat".
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 23 May 2008, at 18:14.
Wikipedia Authorship and Review
Wikipedia content provided here is not reviewed directly by MedLibrary.org. Wikipedia content is authored by an open community of volunteers and is not produced by or in any way affiliated with MedLibrary.org.
Wikipedia Usage Guidelines
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article on "Stool test".
The URL for this specific entry is:
All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details). Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.