What are two essential techniques when collecting a stool specimen?

You should:

• collect your poo (stool) sample in a completely clean (sterile) container
• store the container in a fridge in a sealed plastic bag if you can't hand it in straight away

Your GP or another healthcare professional, such as a nurse, should explain how to collect the sample. It should be collected in a clean, dry screw-top container.

Your doctor or a member of staff at the hospital will give you a plastic (specimen) container to use, although you can use any clean container as long as you can seal it.

Try not to collect pee (urine) or water from the toilet along with the poo, but don't worry if you do. If you need to pee, do this first before collecting the poo.

To collect the sample:

• label a clean, screw-top container with your name, date of birth and the date
• place something in the toilet to catch the poo, such as a potty or an empty plastic food container, or spread clean newspaper or plastic wrap over the rim of the toilet
• make sure the poo doesn't touch the inside of the toilet
• use the spoon or spatula that comes with the container to collect the poo, then screw the lid shut
• if you've been given a container, aim to fill around a third of it – that's about the size of a walnut if you're using your own container
• put anything you used to collect the poo in a plastic bag, tie it up and put it the bin
• wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm running water

Follow any other instructions your doctor has given you.

Your sample of poo must be fresh – if it is not, the bacteria in it can multiply. This means the levels of bacteria in the stool sample won't be the same as the levels of bacteria in your digestive system. If the levels of bacteria don't match, the test results may not be accurate. 

Your sample should be handed in as soon as possible, as sometimes it can't be analysed after being refrigerated – your doctor will tell you if this is the case.

If you can't hand your sample in immediately, find out how long it can be kept in the fridge. Your GP or the healthcare professional who requested the test will be able to tell you. If you can store it in the fridge, put the container in a sealed plastic bag first.

Your GP or another healthcare professional may ask you for a stool sample to help them diagnose or rule out a particular health condition.

Poo contains bacteria and other substances that are in the digestive system.

By testing the levels of these substances and bacteria in your poo, it's possible to work out what's happening in your digestive system.

For example, the sample can be tested to help diagnose:

Find out more about operations, tests and procedures.

Further information