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A fecal culture is a laboratory test to find organisms in the stool (feces) that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and disease.

A stool sample is needed.

There are many ways to collect the sample. One way is to catch the stool on plastic wrap that is loosely placed over the toilet bowl and held in place by the toilet seat. Then, put the sample in a clean container. One test kit supplies a special toilet tissue that you use to collect the sample. You then put the sample in a clean container.

For infants and young children in diapers, line the diaper with plastic wrap. Try to place the plastic wrap in a way that separates the stool from urine so you can get a better sample.

In the laboratory, a technician places a sample of the specimen in a special dish filled with a gel that encourages any microorganisms present to grow. The culture is watched for growth. If there is growth, the organisms are identified. The lab technician may also do more tests to determine the best treatment.

You will get a collection container for the stool specimen. Return the sample to the laboratory as soon as possible. Do not include toilet paper or urine in the specimen.

There is no discomfort.

The test is performed when you have gastrointestinal distress and your doctor suspects that an infection is the cause. It may be performed if you have severe, persistent (won't go away), or recurrent (keeps coming back) diarrhea without a known cause.

It may also be done if you have diarrhea and have recently taken antibiotics, to see if bacteria such as C. difficile (which can cause diarrhea after people take antibiotics) are now in the intestine.

Normal fecal organisms are present.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

Abnormal results may indicate an intestinal infection.

There are no risks.

Often other stool tests are done in addition to the culture, such as:

• Gram stain of stool
• Fecal smear
• Stool ova and parasites exam

Stool culture; Culture - stool

DuPont HL. Approach to the patient with suspected enteric infection. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 305.

Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.