Nearly everyone needs to undergo various types of clinical tests to be certain of specific ailments and health conditions periodically. Apart from blood tests of varying types, undergoing stool tests may also be necessary. Such pathological tests help doctors determine various underlying ailments and infections in a person’s body. It is often included in comprehensive health test packages aimed at both genders.
Why does stool testing become necessary?
Doctors may recommend you opt for Comprehensive stool testing to get a better view of your gastrointestinal health. Through this test, they can fathom your intestinal immune activation, digestive functioning, gut micro biome working, etc. It also helps them understand the presence of certain types of pathogens in the gut. The test results help doctors identify hidden and chronic gastrointestinal symptoms and diseases. Thereafter, they can decide the apt remedial measures.
What are the methods used for conducting stool tests?
Nowadays, pathological labs resort to various methodologies for carrying out stool tests. The most widely used methods are- culture, polymerase chain reaction and microscopy. The doctors decide the apt type of test after analysing the health records of the patients.
Comprehensive Stool Testing- Major Diagnostic Benefits
Doctors recommend people undergo comprehensive stool testing for some major diagnostic benefits, and they are:
- It helps doctors analyse and fathom the condition of the gut micro biome.
- This test result gives insight into digestive markers, and digestive system efficacy can be understood better.
- The inflammatory markers obtained from stool testing help doctors identify gastrointestinal inflammation.
- The tests help doctors fathom gastrointestinal infections, including chronic ones.
Usually, doctors recommend people opt for stool testing to find out indications of conditions and ailments like haemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease, anal fissures, colon disorders, stomach ulcers, etc.
Major Types of Stool Tests
Doctors prescribe different types of stool tests based on their diagnosis and insight. These are:
- Faecal Immunochemical Test– It is used to detect traces of blood in the stool and its source.
- Faecal occult blood Test– The person opting for it has to go for three separate stool samples. It is used to find hidden blood in one’s stool.
- Stool DNA Testing– It is usually used for detecting colorectal cancer, usually.
- Stool Culture Test- This is done to detect any bacterial infections affecting the gastrointestinal tract.
- Faecal Fat Test- It is used to check the quantity of fat in stool and the presence of celiac disease.
When do doctors usually recommend people to go for stool tests?
When blood-based tests fail to highlight the root of any persistent health problem, especially those related to the digestive tract, doctors ask the affected person to undergo specific stool tests. Also, when someone experiences anomalies in his/her stool pattern, the doctor may recommend such tests.
If there is a major change in stool consistency as well as frequency and if a person experiences bleeding in stool, doctors can recommend stool tests. The abnormal smell in the stool, very hard or liquid consistency, may also be indicative of gut health problems. Some people also come across mucus and discolouration in the stool, along with undigested meal portions.
The Time Required for Report Preparation
The time required for preparing the report of stool tests can vary on certain parameters. Some types of stool tests may need more time than others. Also, if the lab is processing other types of tests, including blood test reports, the time for report preparation and delivery can get stretched. It may require 1-3 days.
Are there any specific preparations for undergoing a stool test?
This will depend entirely on the diagnosis of the doctor and the type of stool tests recommended by him/her. He/she may ask you not to eat specific types of foods and beverages a few days or hours before you undergo the test.
For example, for people undergoing faecal occult blood tests, eating red meat and cruciferous veggies is prohibited. This is done to eliminate the risk of false positives. Such a person may also be asked to stop taking probiotic supplements, if any. Also, the doctor will advise you to stop using certain medications like antacids and antibiotics before the test.
There are labs that offer home collection for stool tests nowadays. They will explain the procedure and offer the apparatus as well. All you need to do is use the apparatus, collect the stool and hand it over to their representative for analysis.
What procedure is followed by a stool test?
If the results of a stool test turn out to be positive, the doctors will decide remedial measures for the condition. While the results of a stool test offer doctors plenty of information on the digestive health of the concerned person, it may not be enough. In some cases, the doctors may recommend the person to undergo a colonoscopy.
Selecting a suitable lab for stool testing
While searching for stool test price in Hyderabad, you will come across many pathological labs and clinics offering these tests. Price is not the only parameter that you should use to select one lab. Look at factors like accreditations of a lab, testimonials of its clients and types of test packages offered by it. Most such labs now offer digital report delivery, though few will also offer you a hard copy of the report.
Summing it up
Getting a full body checkup report at the right diagnostic lab is important and Orange Health Lab is the best to connect. In fact the full body checkup price in Hyderabad at Orange Health Lab is feasible and includes stool tests in those packages.
