Stool Specimen Collection Guide

If you have any questions, please contact the Kalamazoo Laboratory at (269) 341-6440.

Supplies

For most patients

  • Toilet hat
  • Stool transport container(s)

If your physician did not provide the stool collection container(s), call (269) 341-6440.

Infants/Toddlers (diapered)

  • U-bag
  • Diaper
  • Plastic wrap
  • Stool collection container(s)

If your physician did not provide the stool collection container(s), call (269) 341-6440.

Stool Specimen Collection Instructions

Adults or older children

  1. Review how many (and what type of) stool containers are needed for your test before collecting the stool sample.
  2. Place the white plastic hat onto the toilet seat.
  3. DO NOT MIX STOOL WITH WATER OR URINE.
  4. After the bowel movement, place the stool into the transport container(s).
  5. Screw the cap(s) tightly onto the container(s).
  6. Label each container with your first and last name, date of birth, and the date and time of collection.

Return the specimen based on the test collected. See test list below for return instructions.

Diaper collection instructions

  1. Apply U-bag.
  2. Line diaper with plastic wrap and apply diaper.
  3. Remove diaper within 30 minutes after stooling.
  4. Discard urine in U-bag without splashing it onto the stool.
  5. Place stool into the stool collection container(s). Follow labeling and return instructions above.

Stool Tests

Select your test below to view collection, storage and return instructions.

Calprotectin

  • Drop off within: 72 hours
  • Amount/consistency: Walnut sized, solid stool
  • Store: Refrigerator
  • Special instructions: None
  • Container type needed: Standard stool transport container
Walnut used to show amount of solid stool needed.
Walnut-sized amount of solid stool.
Clear sterile specimen container with blue screw-top lid and printed label area.
Sterile specimen container with a blue lid.
Clear sterile specimen container with orange screw-top lid and printed label.
Sterile specimen container with an orange lid.

Pancreatic Elastase Stool

  • Drop off within: 7 days
  • Amount/consistency: Walnut sized, solid stool (follow physician instructions)
  • Store: Freezer
  • Special instructions:
    • Use separate container for this test.
    • Discontinue pancreatic enzyme supplementation therapy before stool collection.
    • Watery stool is not recommended.
  • Container type needed: Standard stool transport container
Walnut used to show amount of solid stool needed.
Walnut-sized amount of solid stool.
Clear sterile specimen container with blue screw-top lid and printed label area.
Sterile specimen container with a blue lid.
Clear sterile specimen container with orange screw-top lid and printed label.
Sterile specimen container with an orange lid.

pH / Reducing Substance

  • Drop off within: 24 hours
  • Amount/consistency: Walnut sized, loose stool
  • Store: Freezer
  • Special instructions:
    • No barium or laxatives 1 week prior.
    • Freeze specimen within 2 hours of collection.
  • Container type needed: Standard stool transport container
Walnut used to show amount of loose stool needed.
Walnut-sized amount of loose stool.
Clear sterile specimen container with blue screw-top lid and printed label area.
Sterile specimen container with a blue lid.
Clear sterile specimen container with orange screw-top lid and printed label.
Sterile specimen container with an orange lid.

C. difficile

  • Drop off within: 5 days
  • Amount/consistency: 1 teaspoon liquid stool
  • Store: Refrigerator
  • Special instructions:
    • Do not collect while using topical zinc oxide/Vagisil.
    • Do not submit if specimen is solid.
  • Container type needed: Standard stool transport container
A teaspoon used as a size reference.
About one teaspoon of liquid stool.
Clear sterile specimen container with blue screw-top lid and printed label area.
Sterile specimen container with a blue lid.
Clear sterile specimen container with orange screw-top lid and printed label.
Sterile specimen container with an orange lid.

Lactoferrin

  • Drop off within: 72 hours
  • Amount/consistency: Pea sized, solid stool
  • Store: Refrigerator
  • Special instructions: None
  • Container type needed: Standard stool transport container
A pea used for size reference.
Pea-sized amount of solid stool.
Clear sterile specimen container with blue screw-top lid and printed label area.
Sterile specimen container with a blue lid.
Clear sterile specimen container with orange screw-top lid and printed label.
Sterile specimen container with an orange lid.

GI Panel

  • Drop off within: 4 days
  • Amount/consistency: All forms accepted
  • Store: Room temperature
  • Special instructions:
    • Fill to red line.
    • Invert container 5–10 times.
  • Container type needed: GI panel container (red line)
GI panel stool container with red fill line.
GI panel container showing red fill line.

H. pylori

  • Drop off within: 72 hours
  • Amount/consistency: Follow container line
  • Store: Room temperature
  • Special instructions:
    • Wait 2 weeks after stopping certain medications*.
    • Invert container if liquid present.
  • Container type needed: H. pylori container
H. pylori stool collection container with a fill line.
H. pylori stool collection container.

Occult Blood

  • Drop off within: 5 days
  • Amount/consistency: See kit instructions
  • Store: Room temperature
  • Special instructions: Use OCCULT BLOOD KIT instructions
  • Container type needed: Occult blood kit container(s)
Occult blood test kit with collection materials.
Occult blood test kit.

Ova and Parasites

  • Drop off within: 72 hours
  • Amount/consistency: Fill to line
  • Store: Room temperature
  • Special instructions:
    • Stop bismuth/antibiotics/laxatives 7 days prior.
    • Wait 3 weeks after gallbladder dyes.
  • Container type needed: O&P container
Ova and parasite stool collection container with a fill line.
Ova and parasite stool collection container.

Fecal Fat (Random, 24, 48 or 72 hour)

  • Drop off: Submit entire collection
  • Amount/consistency: All forms accepted
  • Store: Refrigerator
  • Special instructions:
    • Follow fat-controlled diet (100–150g/day).
    • No synthetic fat substitutes.
    • No laxatives.
    • Wait 48 hours after barium.
  • Container type needed: Fecal fat container
Large fecal fat collection container.
Fecal fat collection container.

Questions?

If you are unsure which test you are having or how to store your specimen, contact your provider or call (269) 341-6440.