General analysis of feces

General analysis of feces Is a physical, chemical and microscopic examination of feces.

Stool is the end product that results from the complex biochemical processes of food breakdown. To evaluate the effectiveness of the diagnostics of gastrointestinal diseases (GIT) and to monitor therapy, it is important to assess bowel movements and, as a result, the secretion of the last part of the large intestine (feces).

Examination of feces can assess gastric acid-producing and enzymatic function, enzymatic function of the pancreas, liver dysfunction, accelerated evacuation from the stomach and intestines; Diagnosis of malabsorption in the duodenum and small intestine; Diagnosis of inflammatory process in the gastrointestinal tract, dysbacteriosis, ulcerative, allergic, spastic colitis.

The color of the stool is mainly due to the pigment With stercobilin. Color change is an important diagnostic feature of many diseases. From pathological impurities present in the feces, mucus, blood, pus, as well as helminths, their eggs or protozoa, and cysts may be detected.

The main elements of feces are determined by microscopic examination: Muscle fibers, vegetable fibers, neutral fats, fatty acids and their salts, leukocytes, erythrocytes, intestinal epithelial cells, malignant neoplasm cells, as well as mucus, fungi, protozoa, and helminth eggs.

The following parameters (norm) are determined during the general analysis of feces:

Macroscopic examination

• Form - Decorated, cylindrical mass;
• Consistency - soft;
• Color - Brown;
• The smell;
• Reaction - Neutral;
• Blood and mucus - Not mentioned;
• Parasites - Not mentioned;

Microscopic examination

• Connective tissue - Not mentioned;
• Indigestible muscle fibers - Not marked (or found in individual digested fibers that have lost their stripes)
• Starch - Not mentioned;
• Plant cell digested / undigested - Found in small quantities;
• Epithelial cells - Not mentioned;
• Neutral fat - Not indicated (in small numbers in children under 1 year of age);
• Fatty acids - Not mentioned;
• Leukocytes - not marked or in unit quantities;
• Erythrocytes - Not mentioned;
• Is a protozoan - Not mentioned;
• Yeast fungus - Not mentioned;
• Helminth eggs - Not mentioned;

When should we conduct a general fecal analysis?

• Diagnosis of diseases of the digestive system;
• Evaluation of treatment results.

How to prepare for the test / material collection rule

Before collecting feces for occult bleeding examination, it is essential to exclude all meat, liver and iron-containing products from the diet three days before testing and to discontinue medications (containing iron, ascorbic acid, aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

Rules for collecting feces for research

• Before collecting feces for research, you must first purchase a special container.
• You should urinate before collecting feces (exclude the possibility of urine entering the stool). For research, feces should not contain impurities such as urine.
• Stools should be collected in a specially prepared container for self-defecation.
• Samples are taken from the middle of the fecal mass with a spoon placed in a special container to collect fecal material. 1/3 or 10-15 g of the vessel volume is sufficient for analysis. Feces.
• The container should be tightly closed, placed in a clean bag and delivered to the laboratory center.
• It is not allowed to deliver the feces obtained after the use of enemas, suppositories, castor oil or Vaseline oil to the laboratory for examination.
• If a general fecal analysis and examination of worm eggs is required at the same time, the material may be placed in a single container.

Possible interpretation of the results

Stool color Significantly depends on the diet. In the norm it is brown. In case of pathologies:

• Colorless, clayey or purulent stools - In case of bile duct obstruction (obstructive jaundice);
• Black feces (Melena) - In case of blood loss of more than 100 ml from the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract; When treated with iron or bismuth.
• Red color It is most often caused by the mixing of unchanged blood during bleeding from the large intestine.

Mucus - Characteristic for inflammatory processes (dysentery, ulcerative colitis).

Leukocytes Mainly observed during bacterial infections. They are not observed during diarrhea caused by viruses and parasites.

Erythrocytes May be noted in inflammatory processes, enteritis, amebiasis, ulcerative colitis, lesions of the colon and tumors.

Semi-digested muscle and connective tissue fibers - A large number of them (Creator) Indicates pancreatic insufficiency or impaired gastric secretory function.

Indigestible fiber and starch (Amilorea) - Characteristic for diseases of the small intestine.

Detection of neutral fat in the stool (steatorrhea) - Indicates insufficient lipolytic function of the pancreas; Neutral fats and fatty acids Characterized by impaired bile secretion.

Resources

https://spravochnik.synevo.ua/ru/analiz-kala/koprogramma.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6776453/