Stool Culture

Culture, Stool, Fecal Culture

What Affects the Test

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

• Recent use of antibiotics, medicine (such as bismuth) to control diarrhea, enemas, or laxatives.
• Recent X-ray tests using a contrast material containing barium.
• A stool sample that is mixed with urine or blood.
• Not collecting a large enough sample.
• Not getting the stool sample to the lab for testing quickly enough.

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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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