Lab Tests Costs: Part III - Stool Testing Costs

In our previous posts we discussed all types of lab tests and lab tests costs that are performed by using blood samples, also called bloodwork, as well as urine tests. This post covers lab work and the type of tests that are performed using stool samples, and stool testing costs. A stool analysis is a series of tests done on a stool (feces) sample to help diagnose certain conditions affecting the digestive tract. 

Stool testing costs are typically more expensive than blood and urine tests. Diseases and conditions that affect the digestive tract can include infections (such as from parasites, viruses, or bacteria), poor nutrient absorption, and autoimmune diseases of the digestive system like Inflammatory Bowel Disease or cancer. Although typically blood and urine samples are the preferred specimens for lab work, stool samples can provide unique information about your digestive system, and more and more lab work based on stool samples is available for purchase online.

Types of lab work based on stool samples 

• Stool Culture: This test is mostly used to aid in the diagnosis of digestive tract infection when someone is experiencing chronic diarrhea. It can detect the presence of certain bacteria including Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, and Shiga toxin (if detected, Escherichia coli O157, Culture will be performed).
   
• Stool test Ova and Parasites: Parasitic infection is normally caught by consuming contaminated food or water. Common symptoms of parasites in the lower digestive tract include prolonged diarrhea, blood or mucus in stool, nausea, and abdominal pain. The Ova and Parasites stool test is used to detect eggs (Ova) and parasites in your stool and often will be ordered with a Stool Culture for a more thorough analysis.
   
• Stool test H Pylori: Helicobacter Pylori (H Pylori) is a bacteria found in the stomach. If you are infected, it weakens the stomach’s natural protective lining making it more susceptible to damage from gastric acid. This can lead to the development of ulcers and in time, increase the risk of developing stomach cancer. There are several types of H. Pylori tests including a breath test that measures a metabolite produced by the bacteria, blood tests that detect antibodies your immune system is developing against the bacteria, and a stool test that looks for antigens related to the presence of the H. Pylori bacteria.
   
• Stool test c diff: This test is used in the diagnosis of Clostridium Difficile (C. Diff) infection. C. Diff is a bacteria found in the digestive tract. Antibiotic medication may kill good bacteria and allows C. Diff to flourish. The risk of infection increases with age as well as for those who have recently undergone chemotherapy, had gastrointestinal surgery, suffer from chronic colon conditions or have weakened immune systems. The growth of C. Diff bacteria can lead to damage to the lining of the digestive tract. This damage can result in inflammation of the colon which often causes prolonged diarrhea. Testing for c diff can be detect either the bacteria itself or a released toxin.
   
• FOBT/iFOBT/FIT: stool test occult blood measures the presence of blood in your stool. The are two main methods to identify blood in stool i) guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) which uses the chemical guaiac to detect blood in the stool – color changes to blue in the presence of blood. The CDC recommends doing this test once a year, and ii) immune FOBT or Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) which detects the presence of blood in your stool by immunoassay antigen test to the haemoglobin protein which carries oxygen in red blood cells. iFOBT/FIT is considered more accurate (sensitive and specific) than FOBT/gFOBT.
   
• WBS, Stool: White blood cells (WBS), are produced by the body to fight infections and are not typically present in the stool. When WBS are found in the stool, it can be a sign of conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis). It can also indicate a bacterial infection such as Shigella, C Diff, Salmonella or Campylobacter.
   
• Fecal Calprotectin: Fecal calprotectin, a calcium-binding protein, is a useful stool test to screen for intestinal inflammation associated with IBD disease activity (e.g., at initial presentation or relapse). It is not specific to either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis but can differentiate IBD from IBS if the test is performed during a flare and active inflammation.
   
• Fecal Lactoferrin: Fecal lactoferrin, an iron-binding protein, is another useful marker of intestinal inflammation in IBD. However, more evidence is available for the fecal calprotectin test.
   
• FIT-DNA: The FIT-DNA test (also referred to as the stool DNA test) combines the FIT with a test that detects altered DNA in the stool. For this test, you collect an entire bowel movement and send it to a lab, where it is checked for altered DNA and for the presence of blood. It is done once every three years.
   
• Gut Microbiome: Gut health is a foundation for wellness. Our microbiome is the collection of all the microbes (e.g., bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeast, archaea, and parasites) in our body. For more information go to our previous specific post on Gut Microbiome.

Stool testing costs