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Written Output On Diagnostic Tests: Mr. Bernard Lego, RN, MAN
Written Output On Diagnostic Tests: Mr. Bernard Lego, RN, MAN
Written Output on
Diagnostic Tests
Submitted to:
Clinical Instructor
Submitted to:
Aborque, Jovencio
Bacarro, Nenieta
Garado, Marywin
Gloria, Dahren
Sibayan, Sarah
Group 2
Stool Examination
Description:
Purpose:
To help diagnose certain conditions affecting the digestive tract, including infection, poor
absorption, or cancer.
Stool collection:
Adult
Collect the specimen by passing feces into plastic wrap stretched loosely over the toilet bowl. A
portion of the sample is then transferred into the supplied container; make sure it is without
contamination of urine or toilet tissue. Do not take stool samples from the toilet bowl water.
A stool test kit can also be used, in which it supplies a special toilet tissue that one can use to
collect the sample.
The diaper should be lined with plastic wrap. A urine bag can be attached to the child to ensure
that the stool specimen is not contaminated with urine.
Bedridden patient
The specimen should be collected in a bedpan lined with plastic wrap, and the nurse can
transfer a portion of the feces into the appropriate container.
*Remember specimen must be sent for laboratory analysis immediately for not more than one
hour.
Nurses’s Role:
Nursing personnel should instruct patient on the right collection of stool specimen.
Nursing personnel should consider the patient's diet and medications when assessing
and documenting the character of a patient's stool.
Stool analysis
Normal: The stool appears brown (varies from light brown-dark brown), soft, and well-
formed in consistency.
No blood, mucus, pus, bacteria, viruses, or parasites are present in the stool.
The shape of the stool is tubular, reflecting its passage through the colon.
Normal pH of stool is about 6.
Less than 2 milligrams per gram (mg/g) of certain sugars called reducing factors
are present in the stool.
Abnormal: Increased volume of stool may indicate poor absorption of fats.
Blood, mucus, pus, bacteria, viruses, or parasites are present in the stool.
Low levels of certain enzymes (such as trypsin or elastase) may be present.
Reducing factors levels between 2 and 5 mg/g are considered borderline. Levels
greater than 5 mg/g are abnormal.
Parasites or eggs present in the stool indicate a parasitic infestation, such as, amebiasis
High levels of fat in the stool may indicate chronic pancreatitis, Crohn's disease, or
cystic fibrosis.
The presence of undigested meat fibers in the stool may indicate pancreatitis.
An abnormal pH may indicate poor absorption of carbohydrates or fat.
Low levels of certain enzymes (such as trypsin or elastase) may indicate digestive
complications of cystic fibrosis or pancreatic insufficiency.
The presence of blood in the stool indicates bleeding in the digestive tract.
The presence of white blood cells in the stool may indicate bacterial diarrhea. A specific
organism may be identified.
Rotaviruses are a common cause of diarrhea in young children. If diarrhea is present,
testing may be done to determine the presence of rotaviruses in the stool.
High levels of reducing factors in the stool may indicate a problem digesting certain
sugars (especially sucrase and lactase).