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Stool sample exam, fecal (poop) smear
This test looks for harmful bacteria in a culture sample from your stool.
One kind of harmful bacteria is Campylobacter. It is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the U.S. Campylobacter shows up in the stomach of several animals, including pigs and cattle. But it's most likely to be passed to people through raw and undercooked chicken and other poultry. In some cases, people have become infected through unpasteurized milk and city water supplies contaminated with Campylobacter.
The infection usually runs its course in about a week without any treatment. Other infections may develop, though. They include:
Meningitis
Inflammation of the joints
Urinary tract infection
In rare cases, Campylobacter infection may also lead to Guillain-Barré syndrome. This is a nerve disease that can cause temporary paralysis.
This test can tell your healthcare provider whether you have Campylobacter or a different type of harmful bacteria in your digestive tract.
You may need this test if your healthcare provider thinks you have food poisoning or a digestive tract infection. Symptoms appear several days after you've come in contact with the bacteria. They include:
Fever
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Stomach cramping
Bloody diarrhea
Test results may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, the method used for the test, and other things. Your test results may not mean you have a problem. Ask your healthcare provider what your test results mean for you.
Normal results are negative. This means no Campylobacter bacteria were found in your stool.
A positive result means that the bacteria were found. You may have a Campylobacter infection.
This test needs a sample of your stool. Your healthcare provider will tell you how to collect and deliver the sample. If you aren't able to give a stool sample, your provider may take the sample by putting a swab into your rectum.
Timing is important. If you've been in the hospital for more than 3 days, your results may not be accurate. Contaminating the sample with urine or toilet paper can affect your results.
You don't need to prepare for this test. Be sure your healthcare provider knows about all medicines, herbs, vitamins, and supplements you are taking. This includes medicines that don't need a prescription and any illicit drugs you may use.