Why are stools for WBC performed?

If you or your child’s results show leukocytes in stool, it means there is some kind of inflammation in the digestive tract. The more leukocytes that are found, the higher the chance that you or your child has a bacterial infection. If your provider thinks you have an infection, he or she may order a stool culture.

Is WBC normally present in stool?

WBCs are normally not present in the stool, but can appear with inflammatory diarrhea, symptoms of which include numerous small, loose bowel movements; blood and/or mucus in the stool; severe abdominal cramping; and fever.

Which stain is used for identification of white blood cells in stools?

Microscopy and Latex Agglutination Tests The use of microscopic examination for fecal leukocytes can be performed using methylene blue staining of direct wet preparations3 or Wright’s stains of dried fecal smears.

How long does a fecal leukocyte test take?

White Blood Cells (WBC) Stool Test Fecal Leukocyte Stain, Fecal Leukocytes test, Stool for White Cells, WBC, White Cells, Stool, Test for White Blood Cells in Stool. No special preparation required. 3-5 days. May take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays.

What is an increase in WBC count?

By Mayo Clinic Staff. A high white blood cell count usually indicates: An increased production of white blood cells to fight an infection. A reaction to a drug that increases white blood cell production. A disease of bone marrow, causing abnormally high production of white blood cells.

What does lactoferrin in stool indicate?

Lactoferrin is a stool (fecal) test that is used to detect inflammation in the intestines. Intestinal inflammation is associated with, for example, some bacterial infections and, in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), it is associated with disease activity and severity.

Can a stool sample detect bacteria?

The stool culture is a test that detects and identifies bacteria that cause infections of the lower digestive tract. The test distinguishes between the types of bacteria that cause disease (pathogenic) and the types that are normally found in the digestive tract (normal flora).

What does a positive WBC in stool mean?

The Gram positive and negative bacilli are bacteria in the stool smear and this is normal for stool to have bacteria in it. The WBC is a sign of inflammation and can be due to inflammation of the colon such as colitis.

What is the significance of WBC in stool?

A WBC test or fecal leukocytes stain is ordered to assist in differential diagnosis of diarrheal disease and looks for white blood cells in stool.

What causes high white blood cell count in stool?

Elevated white blood cell count is a sign that your body is fighting an infection. More specifically, testing the number of leukocytes in urine and stool can help doctors to see if there are infections associated with our digestive or urinary systems.

What do stool samples detect?

Stool analysis (stool sample) Clinical laboratory examination of feces, usually termed as stool examination or stool test, is conducted for the sake of diagnosis; for example, to detect the presence of parasites such as pinworms and their eggs (ova) or to detect disease-spreading bacteria.