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Stool analysis is useful in diagnosing many different conditions. It is used for the following:- Diagnosing diseases of the digestive tract, liver, and pancreas. Certain enzymes (such as trypsin or elastase) may be evaluated in the stool to help determine how well the pancreas is functioning.
- Determining the cause of symptoms affecting the digestive tract, including prolonged diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, an increased amount of gas, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, bloating, abdominal pain and cramping, and fever.
- Screening for colorectal cancer by checking for hidden (occult) blood.
- Detecting the presence of parasites, such as pinworms or Giardia lamblia.
- Detecting and identifying certain types of bacteria that can cause disease. This test is called a stool culture and can also be used to detect an infection caused by a fungus or virus.
- Detecting poor absorption of nutrients by the digestive tract (malabsorption syndrome). For this test, all stool is collected over a 72-hour period and then analyzed for the presence of fat and meat fibres. The presence of fat may indicate a malabsorption problem. This test is called a 72-hour stool collection or quantitative fecal fat test.
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