This article was co-authored by Dale Prokupek, MD. Dale Prokupek, MD is a board-certified Internist and Gastroenterologist who runs a private practice based in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Prokupek is also a staff physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and an associate clinical professor of medicine at the Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Prokupek has over 30 years of medical experience and specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the liver, stomach, and colon, including chronic hepatitis C, colon cancer, hemorrhoids, anal condyloma, and digestive diseases related to chronic immune deficiency. He holds a BS in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and an MD from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He completed an internal medicine residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and a gastroenterology fellowship at the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine.
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At some point in your life, your doctor may request that you provide a stool sample. The procedure can be used to diagnose a variety of serious gastrointestinal diseases, including parasites, viruses, bacteria, and even cancer.[1] While unpleasant, the test will ensure you are at your optimal health.
Steps
Preparing to Take the Sample
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1Avoid medicine that will affect the sample. Avoid taking certain medicines before collecting it. This includes anything that might soften your stools, such as Pepto Bismol, Maalox, mineral oil, antacids and Kaopectate. Also, if you have had a Barium Swallow, a metallic compound used to see abnormalities in the esophagus and stomach during an x-ray, you should postpone taking the stool sample.
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2Consult with your doctor. He or she will provide you with the necessary equipment for collecting your stool sample, including a container for storing the sample. Ask about the procedure and if you can receive a “hat.” Follow your doctor's instructions and read any directions that come with your equipment carefully.
- Keep in mind that toilet water, urine, paper, and soap can all ruin the stool sample, so make sure that you have a way to protect your stool from becoming contaminated by these things. Set up a way to catch your stool sample ahead of time.[2]
- Also, be sure to talk with your doctor about any medical conditions or medicines that you are taking before taking the stool sample. This information will provide them with a better understanding of any test results.[3]
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3Prepare your toilet with a hat. The hat is a plastic device that looks like its namesake and is used to catch the feces so that it does not come into contact with toilet water. Ask your doctor if one is available, because it will make the process easier. The hat will fit neatly over a portion of the toilet seat.
- To put the hat in place, lift up the toilet seat, place the hat over the bowl, and then close the toilet seat again. Position yourself on top of the portion of the bowl covered by the hat.
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4Cover your toilet bowl with plastic wrap. If your doctor does not provide you with a hat, then you can also cover the toilet bowl with plastic wrap. To use plastic wrap, lift up the toilet seat and then place the plastic wrap across the toilet bowl. Close the toilet seat on the plastic wrap to help secure it.
- You can also tape the plastic wrap to the side of the bowl for additional security.
- Before you defecate, push down on the plastic to create a small dip in the plastic where the sample will collect.[4]
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5Lay a sheet of newspaper across your toilet bowl. As a last recourse, you can also use a large sheet of newspaper to collect your stool sample. To use a piece of newspaper, lift up the toilet seat and place the newspaper across the toilet bowl and then close the toilet seat to secure it.
- You can also tape the newspaper to the side of the bowl to hold it in place.
- You may also want to push down on the center of the paper to create a place for the sample to settle.
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6Defecate into the collection device. Be sure to urinate first so that you do not contaminate the sample. Whether at home or at the doctor’s office, secure the toilet with either a hat or plastic wrap. Be careful that all of the sample is collected and does not come into contact with the toilet water.
Handling the Sample
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1Deposit sample in the container. Open up one of the containers that the doctor gave you. There should be a small shovel-like tool attached to the cap of the container. Use the shovel to scoop a small bit of stool into the container. Try to take some stool from each end and from the middle.
- The size of the sample will vary somewhat with the test. Sometimes your doctor will give you a container with a red line and liquid on the inside. You will want to put in enough stool to raise the liquid to the level of the red line. If not, aim for a sample approximately the size of a grape.
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2Dispose of your collection device. Flip over the contents of the hat/plastic wrap into the toilet. Flush away the stool and deposit the hat/plastic wrap and any other garbage into a trash bag. Tie the trash bag in a knot, and put it somewhere that you cannot smell it.
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3Refrigerate the sample. Whenever possible the sample should be returned immediately. If you are not doing so, it should be refrigerated. Put the container with the stool in a sealed bag and store in the fridge. Label it with your name, date, and time of collection. Consider an opaque bag so that no one can see your stool sample.[5]
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4Return the samples to your doctor as soon as possible. Under no circumstances should you wait more than 24 hours before returning the sample to a doctor. The bacteria in your stool will grow and change. Usually your doctor will want the sample back within two hours to get an accurate result.[6]
- Follow up with your doctor to get the results of your stool sample.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionCan I keep the stool in the fridge overnight and drop it off morning?
Mandolin S. Ziadie, MDDr. Ziadie is a board certified Pathologist in South Florida. She specializes in renal, transplant, and pediatric Pathology and has over 12 years of experience. She earned her medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 2004 and completed her fellowship in Pediatric Pathology at Children’s Medical Center in 2010.
Board Certified PathologistAs long as your test does not require immediate delivery, then you can keep it sealed in a bag in your refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Check with the lab or ask your doctor to be sure.
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QuestionIf a stool is collected on a Saturday afternoon when the lab is closed, will the stool sample be good until Monday morning when it opens?Mandolin S. Ziadie, MDDr. Ziadie is a board certified Pathologist in South Florida. She specializes in renal, transplant, and pediatric Pathology and has over 12 years of experience. She earned her medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 2004 and completed her fellowship in Pediatric Pathology at Children’s Medical Center in 2010.
Board Certified PathologistIt depends on the tests being performed on the sample and how well the sample is maintained. Some tests cannot be performed on refrigerated samples. In this case, the sample should be taken within 30 minutes of collection to the lab. Check with the lab to see if the test you are having requires immediate delivery of your sample. If immediate delivery is not required, then you can seal your sample in a plastic bag and keep it in your refrigerator for up to 24 hours.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
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QuestionWould urine in the stool sample container that had been wiped away contaminate it?Mandolin S. Ziadie, MDDr. Ziadie is a board certified Pathologist in South Florida. She specializes in renal, transplant, and pediatric Pathology and has over 12 years of experience. She earned her medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 2004 and completed her fellowship in Pediatric Pathology at Children’s Medical Center in 2010.
Board Certified PathologistIt depends on the test being performed on the sample. If your doctor is testing for bacteria, it is possible that bacteria in the urine can linger in the container and contaminate the specimen. The same is true of blood in the urine. If this occurs and you only have one container, then let your doctor know that the sample may be contaminated with urine.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
Warnings
- The liquids that come in the kit are very toxic. Wash your hands thoroughly when you are done and do not drink the liquid.⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You'll Need
- Kit from your doctor
- Plastic "hat"
- Laxative (optional, if you are constipated)
- Trash bag
- Soap and water to wash your hands when you are finished
References
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/stool-analysis
- ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/how-should-i-collect-and-store-a-stool-faeces-sample.aspx?CategoryID=69
- ↑ Prokupek, Dale. Personal interview. 16 April 2020.
- ↑ https://www.seattlechildrens.org/pdf/PE810.pdf
- ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/how-should-i-collect-and-store-a-stool-faeces-sample.aspx?CategoryID=69
- ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/how-should-i-collect-and-store-a-stool-faeces-sample.aspx?CategoryID=69
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/stool-culture?page=2
- ↑ http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/34/2/167.full
About This Article
Before taking a stool sample, avoid any medications that might affect the results, such as stool softeners, antacids, or mineral oil. Since toilet water, urine, paper, and soap can ruin your sample, talk to your doctor about how to collect your stool. If your doctor gives you a “hat,” which is a plastic device used to collect fecal samples, rest it over the top of your toilet bowl and position yourself on top of it. Otherwise, lift up your toilet seat and place plastic wrap across the toilet bowl. Once the bowl is covered, close the seat on the plastic wrap to secure it. Push down on the plastic wrap slightly to create a small dip to collect your sample. When you have a sample, open the container from your doctor and use the scoop to take a sample from both ends and the middle of the stool. Put your name and date on the container before returning it to the doctor. For more tips from our Medical co-author, including how to refrigerate a stool sample, keep reading!
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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