💩 Stool Analysis

A non-invasive test that assesses digestion, infection, inflammation, and gut microbiome health.

🔍 What is it?

A Stool Analysis is a diagnostic test that examines a sample of your stool (faeces) to evaluate gut health, detect digestive disorders, and identify infections or imbalances in the gastrointestinal (GI) system. It’s often used when people experience chronic digestive symptoms or suspect gut-related conditions.

This test may also include microbiome profiling in private clinics, giving a snapshot of beneficial and harmful gut bacteria.

🧪 What does it measure?

Stool tests may assess:

• Infections
  • Bacteria (e.g. Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter)
  • Viruses (e.g. norovirus)
  • Parasites (e.g. Giardia, Entamoeba)
    
     
• Inflammation Markers
  • Calprotectin – high levels suggest inflammation (e.g. IBD)
  • Lactoferrin – another inflammation marker
    
     
• Digestive Markers
  • Fat levels (steatocrit) – for malabsorption
  • Elastase – reflects pancreatic enzyme function
    
     
• Microbiome Balance
  • Relative abundance of beneficial vs harmful bacteria
  • Yeast or fungal overgrowth
    
     
• Occult Blood (FOBT/FIT)
  • Screens for hidden blood in stool (e.g. bowel cancer screening)
    
     

❓ Why might I need it?

You may be advised to get a stool test if you have:

• 💩 Persistent diarrhoea, constipation, or bloating
• 🧬 Suspected IBD (Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis) or IBS
• ✈️ Recent travel history with gut symptoms
• ⚖️ Unexplained weight loss
• 🍽️ Suspected malabsorption (e.g. not absorbing nutrients properly)
• 🔬 To evaluate your gut microbiome
• 🦠 To rule out parasites or bacterial infections
   

🧬 Conditions it can help detect:

• Gastroenteritis (bacterial, viral, or parasitic)
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
• Gut dysbiosis (microbiome imbalance)
• Pancreatic insufficiency
• Colorectal cancer (when checking for occult blood)
• Food intolerance/malabsorption
   

🩺 How is it done?

• You collect a small stool sample at home using a provided kit
• The sample is sent to a lab for analysis
• Results typically return in 2–5 working days, depending on the complexity
   

💷 Typical Private Cost in the UK:

• £80–£300
  
   
• Basic pathogen screens cost less
  
   
• Full microbiome and digestive health panels cost more
   

✅ Commonly Combined With:

• Food intolerance or allergy testing
• Coeliac screen
• Full blood count (FBC)
• Vitamin B12, D, Iron tests – to evaluate effects of malabsorption
• Calprotectin – specifically to rule out IBD
  
   

📚 References:

1. NHS – Stool Tests
2. NHS – Calprotectin Test
3. British Society of Gastroenterology – Guidelines
4. Coeliac UK – Diagnosis and Gut Symptoms