During health check-ups, stool samples are routinely collected for basic examination. Stool analysis, one of the three routine tests, helps identify bleeding, inflammation, and parasitic infections in the digestive tract. It aids in early detection of gastritis, liver disease, and serves as a diagnostic screening for gastrointestinal tumors.
In this article, we primarily discuss the requirements and considerations for collecting routine fecal samples during medical examinations:
1. Sample quantity: The collection amount for routine samples typically ranges from 2 to 5 grams.
2. Collection tool: Fecal sample collection tools should be clean, dry containers with lids. It is recommended to use disposable stool boxes provided by hospitals.
3. Prevention of contamination: During fecal sample collection, precautions should be taken to avoid contamination from urine, water, menstrual blood, etc., to prevent affecting the test results.
4. Normal diet: Before collecting fecal samples, patients should maintain a regular diet, avoiding overeating or fasting to preserve the authenticity of the samples.
5. Sampling sites: Samples should be collected from multiple sites in the stool to increase their representativeness. For example, samples can be taken from the surface, center, and bottom of the feces.
6. Timely submission for testing: After fecal sample collection, they should be promptly sent to the laboratory for testing. If immediate submission is not possible, samples can be stored under refrigeration at 4-8°C for up to 24 hours.
7. Avoiding desiccation: Following fecal sample collection, prolonged exposure to air leading to desiccation should be avoided, as dried fecal samples can impact cytological and microbiological examinations under the microscope.
