Stool Analysis

Fecal Analysis

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• Taking medicines such as antibiotics, antidiarrheal medications, barium, bismuth, iron, ascorbic acid, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and magnesium.
• Eating certain foods. For example, a diet high in red meat can cause false-positive results in testing for hidden (occult) blood.
• Contaminating a stool sample with urine, menstrual blood, bleeding hemorrhoids, or chemicals found in toilet paper and paper towels.
• Exposing the stool sample to air or room temperature or failing to send the sample to a laboratory within 1 hour of collection.

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Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: April 11, 2008
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Peter J. Kahrilas, MD - Gastroenterology
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