How To Collect A Sample Of Poo Stool Sample

Overview

A stool sample (also called a poo sample or faecal sample) is a small amount of your poo that is sent to a laboratory to be tested. Doctors use these tests to look for infections, blood, inflammation and other problems in your gut. You collect the sample yourself at home, usually into a small clean pot given to you by your GP surgery, clinic or hospital. It is quick, private and nothing to feel embarrassed about — laboratory staff handle samples every day. A sample about the size of a walnut, or one to two teaspoons, is usually plenty. Your doctor will tell you exactly what test is being done and whether you need one sample or several.

Yes, very common. Stool tests are one of the most regularly requested tests in general practice, and pharmacists, nurses and lab staff deal with them all the time. There is nothing unusual or shameful about being asked for one.

Anyone can be asked for a stool sample — babies in nappies, children, adults and older adults. It may be to check ongoing diarrhoea, to look for blood, to find the cause of tummy pain, to check for an infection picked up abroad, or to see whether a treatment is working.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• Diarrhoea that lasts more than a few days, or keeps coming back
• Blood or mucus (a jelly-like slime) in your poo
• Ongoing tummy pain, cramping or bloating
• A change in your usual bowel habit, such as looser or more frequent poo
• Feeling sick, losing weight without trying, or feeling very tired
• Diarrhoea after travelling abroad or after taking a course of antibiotics

Symptoms in children

• Loose or watery poo that lasts more than a couple of days
• Blood or slime in the nappy
• Tummy pain, poor feeding or fewer wet nappies
• Being irritable, sleepy or less playful than usual
• A sample may be collected from a clean nappy or potty rather than from the toilet

Symptoms in older adults

• A new or lasting change in bowel habit
• Blood in poo or black, tar-like poo
• Loose poo with confusion, dizziness or fewer trips to the toilet for a wee
• Symptoms after a hospital stay or a course of antibiotics
• Feeling weak or more unsteady than usual alongside tummy symptoms

Causes

Main causes

• A tummy or bowel infection caused by bacteria, viruses or tiny parasites
• Inflammation in the bowel, which can make poo contain blood or a marker called calprotectin
• Hidden blood in the poo, which you may not be able to see
• Problems digesting food, such as fat not being absorbed properly
• Bacteria that are hard to treat, sometimes after a stay in hospital or a course of antibiotics
• Sometimes a sample is checked simply to rule problems out and give you peace of mind

Risk factors

• Recent travel abroad, especially to places where tap water is not safe to drink
• Eating or drinking food and water that may be contaminated
• Close contact with animals or with someone who has the same symptoms
• A recent course of antibiotics or a recent hospital stay
• A weaker immune system, which can make infections more likely
• A family history of bowel problems

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• You have blood in your poo, or poo that is black and sticky like tar
• You have severe tummy pain, or a high temperature with shaking chills
• You feel dizzy, very thirsty, or are passing much less urine than usual
• You are losing weight without trying and your bowel habit has changed

Book a routine appointment if:

• Diarrhoea or loose poo that lasts more than a few days
• Tummy pain, bloating or wind that keeps coming back
• Mucus in your poo, or a feeling of not quite emptying your bowels
• You have been asked to drop off a sample and are unsure what to do
• You are worried about your bowel habits, even if nothing seems badly wrong

Diagnosis

Your doctor will talk to you about your symptoms and then give you a small, clean container plus instructions. Some surgeries ask you to drop the sample off, others give you a prepaid envelope to post. Different tests look for different things — for example, a test for infection, a test for hidden blood, or a test for inflammation. Sometimes you may be asked for more than one sample, on different days, because tiny parasites do not show up in every sample.

Tests that may be done

• Microscopy and culture — a lab looks at the sample under a microscope and tries to grow any germs present
• Testing for parasites and their eggs, which may need two or three samples on different days
• A faecal calprotectin test, which measures a marker of inflammation in the bowel
• A faecal immunochemical test (FIT), which looks for hidden blood
• Testing for a bug that can cause problems after antibiotics or a hospital stay
• Measuring fat or other substances in the poo to check how well food is being digested

What to expect at your appointment

Plan to collect the sample at a time that suits you — there is no rush. Put on a pair of gloves if you have them, or wash your hands very well afterwards. Pass poo into a clean, dry container such as the pot from your GP, a clean plastic tub, or a clean layer of cling film or paper placed in the toilet. Do not let the sample mix with urine, toilet water or toilet cleaner. Use the little spoon or stick that comes with the pot to scoop a walnut-sized amount into the container, then screw the lid on tightly. Label the pot with your name, date of birth and the date, wash your hands, and keep the pot in a cool place — a fridge is fine if it is in a sealed bag and away from food — until you hand it in the same or next day. Results usually come back within a few days, though some tests take one to two weeks. Your GP will contact you if anything needs following up.

Treatment

The sample itself is not a treatment — it is a way of finding out what is going on so that you and your doctor can choose the right next step. What happens after the result depends entirely on what the test shows. Many results come back normal or show a mild infection that clears up on its own.

Self-care at home

• Ask the receptionist or nurse at your GP surgery for the correct pot and any instructions before you collect the sample
• Collect the sample before you start any new treatment, unless your doctor tells you otherwise
• Do not put the pot in with your food, and keep it out of reach of children and pets
• Drink plenty of fluids while you have loose poo or diarrhoea, so you do not become dehydrated
• Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet and before preparing food
• Clean the toilet seat and flush handles if you have an infection, and do not share towels
• Hand the sample in as soon as you can — check with your surgery whether they need it the same day
• Take a photo of the label or the collection instructions if you are worried you will forget the details

Medical treatments

Treatment is chosen only after the result comes back. If a bacterial or parasite infection is found, your doctor may prescribe a medicine to clear it, along with advice about fluids and hygiene. If the sample points to inflammation, you may be referred for further tests or to a specialist. If everything is normal, your doctor may look at other causes such as diet, stress or a sensitive gut, and talk through options with you. Never start leftover medicines from home without checking with your GP or pharmacist.

When is surgery considered?

Surgery is not relevant to collecting a stool sample. In a small number of cases, further tests such as a camera test of the bowel or a scan may be arranged, and your doctor would explain any procedure to you fully beforehand.

Living with this condition

Waiting for results can feel unsettling, and bowel symptoms can be awkward to talk about. Try to carry on with your usual routine and note down any changes in your symptoms so you can tell your doctor. If you are going out, plan ahead — know where the toilets are, carry spare underwear and wipes, and keep water with you.

Lifestyle tips

• Keep up good hand hygiene, especially after the toilet and before eating
• Store, cook and reheat food safely, and wash fruit and vegetables
• Drink bottled or boiled water when travelling where tap water is not safe
• Limit very rich, spicy or high-fibre foods for a few days if your tummy is unsettled
• Get plenty of rest — being run down can slow your recovery

Diet and exercise

If you have loose poo, keep sipping fluids and try gentle, plain foods until you feel better. Once symptoms settle, build back up to your normal balanced diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables and fibre. Gentle activity such as a short walk can help you feel better, but rest when you need to and avoid hard exercise until your symptoms have settled.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Bowel problems and tests around them can cause worry, embarrassment or low mood, and it is completely understandable if you feel that way. Talk to someone you trust, and mention your worries to your GP — they can explain what the tests are for and what the results mean. If your mood stays low, or anxiety is affecting your sleep or daily life, tell your doctor. If you ever feel you cannot cope, contact your local mental health service or emergency number straight away — you deserve support.

Prevention

Not all bowel problems can be prevented, so some stool tests will always be needed. But you can lower your chance of catching and spreading tummy infections with good hand washing, safe food handling and care with drinking water when you travel.

Screening programmes

Some bowel tests are used for screening rather than for symptoms — for example, home testing kits sent to people in certain age groups to look for hidden blood. These kits come with their own instructions, and the sample is collected in a different way from a GP-requested pot. If you receive one, follow the leaflet that comes with it. Ask your GP or local health service whether you are due for screening where you live.

Complications

If left untreated

• An infection may last longer than it needs to, or spread to others
• Dehydration, especially in babies and older adults, which can become serious quickly
• A delay in finding the cause of symptoms, which may mean a delay in getting the right help
• Worry and uncertainty carrying on longer than necessary

Long-term outlook

Very good. Collecting a stool sample is a simple, safe test that often gives clear answers or reassuringly normal results. Even when something is found, most causes of bowel symptoms are treatable, and knowing what is going on means you and your doctor can take the right next step. If anything about your symptoms changes or gets worse while you wait, contact your GP or local health service rather than waiting for the result.

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