Stool Culture – Gastrointestinal Screen
Clinical Significance
This test is used to identify bacterial pathogens that may cause gastrointestinal infection. Stool culture helps detect organisms responsible for foodborne illness and infectious diarrhoea, supporting clinicians in determining the underlying cause of gastrointestinal symptoms and guiding appropriate treatment where necessary.
The Stool Culture – Gastrointestinal Screen is a laboratory test used to detect bacterial pathogens that may be responsible for gastrointestinal infections. Stool culture allows microorganisms present in the sample to be grown and identified in the laboratory, helping investigate diarrhoea, abdominal pain, food poisoning, and other gastrointestinal illnesses. Selected bacterial pathogens are identified through culture-based methods to support diagnosis and appropriate clinical management.
Who Might Benefit From This Test?
This test may be appropriate for individuals experiencing persistent diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, or other unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms. It may also be recommended following recent travel, suspected food poisoning, exposure during an outbreak, or when bacterial gastrointestinal infection is clinically suspected.
Sample Collection
A stool sample is required for this test. Clear written instructions are provided to ensure correct collection and safe transport to the laboratory. In some circumstances, additional stool samples collected on separate days may be recommended if clinically indicated.
Understanding Your Results
A positive result identifies one or more bacterial pathogens present in the stool sample, helping guide further clinical assessment and treatment decisions. A negative result reduces the likelihood of the bacterial organisms included in the culture but does not completely exclude all possible causes of gastrointestinal symptoms. Results should always be interpreted alongside the patient's symptoms, medical history, travel history, and any additional investigations.
Choose Your Gastrointestinal Screen
At MDC, we offer several specialised PCR gastrointestinal screening panels to investigate different causes of gastrointestinal infection. Please select the panel that best matches your clinical needs or the recommendation of your healthcare professional.
Gastrointestinal Screen – Bacteria (PCR)
Detects common bacterial causes of gastrointestinal infection, including Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, Clostridioides difficile, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), and E. coli O157.
Gastrointestinal Screen – Parasites (PCR)
Detects common intestinal protozoal parasites, including Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium, Blastocystis hominis, Dientamoeba fragilis, Cyclospora cayetanensis, and Entamoeba histolytica.
Gastrointestinal Screen – Viruses (PCR)
Detects viral causes of gastroenteritis, including Norovirus (GI & GII), Rotavirus, Adenovirus, Astrovirus and Sapovirus.
Gastrointestinal Screen – Helminths (PCR)
Detects intestinal worm infections, including Ascaris, Strongyloides, Taenia, Trichuris, hookworms and other clinically significant helminths.
Gastrointestinal Screen – Bacteria & Parasites (PCR)
A combined PCR panel that detects a range of common bacterial pathogens together with selected intestinal parasites in a single test.
Important Information: Results should always be interpreted in conjunction with the patient's medical history, clinical examination, and other relevant findings.
Book the Stool Culture – Gastrointestinal Screen
£120 · Stool sample · Results within 10 working days.
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