Stool cultures are used to identify viruses, parasites, and other pathogenic
microorganisms. The routine culture can identify:
- Shigella
- Salmonella
- Campylobacter
- Yersinia
- E.Coli
- Staphylococcus
Since stool normally has a large number of various microorganisms
present, it is not sterile.
Stool passed into a toilet bowl is not ideal for culture as it may
contain contamination from others. It is better to pass the stool directly
into a collection jar, or a bedpan. A sample of the stool can be separated
with a tongue blade and placed into a specimen container for deliver to the
lab.
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Normal Values*
| Stool Culture |
Normal Stool Flora |
*These are general values taken from a variety of
sources. The actual normal values may vary from lab to lab and from one
type of testing protocol to another.
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