STOOL EXAMINATION, PH & REDUCING SUBSTANCES in New-alipore, Kolkata

Stool Examination: Price, Purpose, and Understanding Your Report

Test Overview

Your digestive system plays a major role in your overall health, and one of the easiest ways to check how well it’s working is through a stool examination. This simple test gives important insights into your gut function, helping detect possible infections, inflammation, or problems with nutrient absorption.

A stool examination is a routine but essential lab test that doctors use to evaluate many digestive and metabolic conditions. It can help identify bacterial or parasitic infections, check how active your digestive enzymes are, and show how efficiently your body is breaking down and absorbing food. By analysing your stool, doctors can understand the overall health of your gut and recommend the right treatment or lifestyle changes if needed. The test is available across Apollo diagnostic centres, with home sample collection facilities and fast online reporting. If you are searching for a stool examination near me, Apollo 24|7 makes the process easy and reliable with NABL-accredited laboratories and accurate results.

What is a Stool Examination?

A stool examination (also known as stool routine and microscopy) is a diagnostic test used to analyse a sample of faeces to detect abnormalities in digestion, infection, or inflammation. It provides insights into intestinal health by examining the physical characteristics, chemical content, and microscopic features of the stool.

The test helps identify causes of gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, or malabsorption. Doctors often recommend it as a first-line investigation for people with persistent digestive problems, unexplained weight loss, or recurrent infections.

Depending on the findings, a stool test may be combined with other diagnostic panels such as liver function or gut-health assessments to form a complete picture of gastrointestinal well-being. The stool examination purpose is not limited to detecting disease; it also serves as a preventive screening for general digestive health.

What is the Stool Examination Price?

The stool examination price can vary depending on your location, the diagnostic centre, and the method used. 

Factors Affecting the Price

Type of Examination: Basic stool routine tests are less expensive, whereas specialised analyses such as occult blood, fat globules, pH, or reducing substances cost more.

• Sample Handling and Equipment: Advanced laboratory methods for detecting parasites or bacterial infections may slightly raise the price.
• City or Centre: Prices can differ slightly among metropolitan and regional centres.
• Home Sample Collection: Opting for a home pickup may involve a small convenience fee.
• Online Discounts: Booking through Apollo 24|7 often provides discounted rates.

Checking the stool examination price near me on the Apollo 24|7 website ensures transparency and helps you book the test at the most convenient location.

What is the Purpose of a Stool Examination?

The stool examination purpose is to help diagnose disorders of the digestive system and identify infections that might affect intestinal health. This single, simple test can uncover conditions that otherwise remain hidden without invasive procedures.

Doctors may recommend the test for several reasons:

• Detecting Infections
• Assessing Digestive Function
• Identifying Blood in Stool: Helps detect gastrointestinal bleeding from ulcers, haemorrhoids, or colon lesions.
• Screening for Inflammatory Diseases: Aids in identifying gut inflammation caused by infections, irritable bowel disease, or coeliac disease.
• Monitoring Treatment: Used to monitor recovery from infections or digestive disorders and to assess treatment effectiveness.

In summary, the stool examination provides essential information on the health of your digestive system and supports early diagnosis of multiple intestinal conditions.

Who Should Get a Stool Examination Done?

A doctor may recommend a stool examination for both children and adults experiencing persistent or unexplained digestive symptoms such as:

• Diarrhoea or constipation lasting more than a few days
• Blood or mucus in the stool
• Abdominal bloating, cramping, or nausea
• Unexplained weight loss or poor appetite
• Fatigue linked to nutritional deficiencies
• Recurrent intestinal infections

It is also advised for individuals with weakened immunity, frequent travellers, or those exposed to contaminated food or water sources.

Components of a Stool Examination

A comprehensive stool examination typically includes 16 tests with three parts; physical, chemical, and microscopic analysis. Together, these 16 test components help identify various abnormalities in the digestive system.

1. Physical Examination:

This part assesses the stool’s colour, consistency, quantity, and odour. Normal stool is brown, soft, and well-formed. Pale or clay-coloured stool may indicate liver or bile-duct problems, while black or tarry stool can suggest gastrointestinal bleeding. Greasy, foul-smelling stool may point to poor fat digestion.

2. Chemical Examination:

Chemical tests evaluate the stool’s pH, presence of reducing substances, occult (hidden) blood, or bile pigments.

• pH Test: Indicates the acidity or alkalinity of stool; low pH suggests carbohydrate malabsorption or lactose intolerance.
• Reducing Substances Test: Detects unabsorbed sugars, commonly used in children to identify enzyme deficiencies.
• Occult Blood Test: Identifies hidden bleeding, which can be an early sign of ulcers or colon polyps.
• Bile Pigments and Fat: Abnormalities may point to liver or pancreatic issues.

3. Microscopic Examination:

This part involves examining the stool sample under a microscope to identify:

• Parasites such as Giardia, Entamoeba histolytica, or Ascaris
• Bacterial infections or fungal growth
• Undigested food particles indicating poor digestion
• Pus cells or red blood cells showing intestinal inflammation
• Together, these findings provide a complete picture of how the digestive system is functioning.

Understanding a Stool Examination Report

Your stool examination report lists each parameter tested, its observed value, and the corresponding interpretation. Here’s an overview of what common results mean: