Stool Culture

Culture, Stool, Fecal Culture

How To Prepare

No special preparation is required before having this test. Do not collect a stool sample if you have bleeding hemorrhoids. Women should not collect a stool sample during their menstrual period; wait until 3 days after your period has stopped. Tell your doctor if you have recently taken antibiotics, traveled out of your native country, or had a recent test with contrast material.

Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).

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Author:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated: May 5, 2006
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Peter J. Kahrilas, MD - Gastroenterology
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