Microbiology Test

Test : Stool fungus culture


Indications : Stool fungus test is ordered to detect fungal infection in a patient.

Stool samples can be obtained by inserting cotton swabs containing a preservative into the rectal region and by rotating it gently. The cotton swab is then placed in a sterile container and transported to the laboratory as quickly as possible where it is streaked on to culture plates containing specific media that facilitates fungal growth.

Make sure that the sample is not contaminated with urine, tissue or hair and that adequate sample is collected.

Washing hands is a must before sample collection and afterwards. Use of antibiotics or laxatives prior to the test may affect the results. Talk to your doctor regarding any medicine that you might be taking.

Physiology : Stool fungus test is carried out to detect the presence of fungi, especially the Candida species, in immune compromised hosts.

Candida may become disseminated in patients with leucopenia, AIDS, those on immunosuppressive drugs, broad spectrum antibiotics, oral contraceptive drugs or corticoid therapy and, also, in those with phagocytic defects and hyper alimentation. Fungal enteritis occurs very rarely and is usually seen in patients with severe systemic fungal infection.

The test may not be appropriate or medically significant for Candida sp. infections, as C. albicans is normally found in stool.

Normal Range : No growth

Interpretation : Normal

Negative - No fungal growth seen.

Abnormal

Positive - Fungal growth is observed in the culture plates indicating fungal infection in the patient.

Sample : stool, rectal swab

Test Method : culture on selective media

Related Tests : fungus culture, Candida antigen, Methylene blue stain, Sputum fungus culture, stool culture.

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