Collecting Stool Specimen

Purpose
• For laboratory diagnosis, such as microscopic examination, culture and sensitivity tests.

Equipments required
◘ Clean bedpan or commode
◘ Wooden spatula or applicator
◘ Specimen container
◘ Tissue paper
◘ Laboratory requests
◘ Disposable glove, for patients confined in bed
◘ Bed protecting materials
◘ Screen

Procedure
For ambulatory patient
Give adequate instruction to the patient to
• Defecate in clean bedpan or commode (toilet)
• Avoid contaminating the specimen by urine, menstrual period or used tissue papers, because these may affect the laboratory analysis.
• Void before collecting the specimen
• Transfer the sample (specimen) to the container using spatula or applicator

For patients confined in bed
1. Prepare the patient's unit
• Provide privacy by drawing screen, closing windows and doors (To provide privacy)

2. Prepare the patient
• Put on gloves
• Position the patient
• Place bed protecting materials under the patient's hips
• Assist the patient and place the bed pan under the patient's buttocks (follow the steps under "Giving and removing bedpan")
• Give patient privacy by leaving alone, but not far
• Instruct the patient about how to notify you when finished defecation.
• Remove the bedpan and keep on safe place by covering it
• Recomfort the patient

3. Obtain stool sample
• Take the used bedpan to utility room/toilet container using spatula or applicator without contaminating the outside of the container.
• The amount of stool specimen to be taken depends on the purpose, but usually takes.
o 3.5 gm sample from formed stool
o 15.30 ml sample from liquid stool
• Visible mucus, pus or blood should be included into sample stool specimen taken.

4. Care of equipments and the specimen collected.
• Handle and label the specimen correctly
• Send the specimen to the laboratory immediately, unless there is an order for its handling. Because fresh specimen provides the most accurate results.
• Dispose the bedpan's content and give proper care of all equipments used.

5. Documentation and report