Stool

Disposable containers are available at any pharmacy. Apply the label with your first and last name to the container.

STOOL TEST
Follow your habitual diet; collect the first sample in the container and take it to the laboratory. If more than 2 hours and up to a maximum of 24 hours go by before you take the sample to the laboratory, store in the fridge at 4 °C. The sample must be handed in before 12:00 (noon).

STOOL OVA AND PARASITE TEST
Before collecting the stool sample, make sure the patient has not taken any of the following substances: barium sulphate for radiation tests, mineral oils, non-absorbable antidiarrheal drugs, anti-malaria drugs, tetracycline. If the patient has taken any of these substances, it will be necessary to wait one week before running the test. Because the elimination of some intestinal parasites does not occur daily, for a correct result it is important to run the test on at least three stool samples. Collect the sample in the appropriate container and hand it in within 2 hours of collection.
 The sample must be handed in before 12:00 (noon).

TAPE TEST
At night, before going to bed, clean the perianal area thoroughly. In the morning apply a strip of cellophane tape (found in any stationary store) over the entire anal area. Strip the tape off and affix it to the slide provided by the laboratory.
The sample must be handed in before 12:00 (noon).

FAECAL OCCULT BLOOD TEST
Preconditions:

• Do not take drugs that may cause gastro-intestinal irritation (for example aspirin, cortisone, etc.) or that contain iron.
• Do not take the test if particular conditions are present, such as haemorrhoids, gingival lesions, menstruation.
• Do not collect stool if the patient is using rectal medicines.

  Collection

  Collect the sample in the appropriate container and hand it in to the laboratory before 12:00 (noon).

STOOL CULTURE
Preconditions
Any chemical-antibiotic treatment should be suspended at least five days prior to collection.
The disposable container must be sterile. The sample must be collected during the acute stage of the infection. The patient must discharge directly into the sterile container without the stool sample being contaminated by urine. Deliver the sample within 2 h from collection, and before 12:00 (noon).