Stool Culture + Sentry Air Systems

4 min readOct 30, 2020

What is Stool Culture?

Stool culture is the process of testing a sample of stool in order to determine whether you have an infection in your lower digestive tract due to pathogenic germs such as bacteria, fungus, viruses, or protozoa. This test is used to identify the various types of bacteria that can cause disease and differ from the normal bacteria in the digest tract, gut flora.

When is Stool Culture Necessary?

Certain bacteria and germs can cause a severe disruption in one’s normal gut flora resulting in irregularities in their lower digestive tract such as diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and /or vomiting. When these symptoms last longer than a few days or the frequency occurs more than usual it is best to seek the advice of a doctor or medical professional. In most cases, a sample will be taken to test your bacteria levels in your stool where they are a reflection of the bacteria represented in your digestive system or gastrointestinal tract.

Unfortunately, pathogenic bacteria can be found in the most common of sources, such as food and drinks, if not handled correctly or not cooked thoroughly enough. Examples of common sources that may carry unhealthy bacteria into your digestive tract are:

Raw/ Undercooked Eggs
Raw/ Undercooked Poultry
Raw/ Undercooked Beef
Raw/ Undercooked Seafood
Expired Vegetables/ Fruit
Untreated water
Overindulgence of citrus
Artificial sugar
Overindulgence of fiber
Dairy Product

Stool Culture and Sensitivity Procedures

Sensitivity procedures (sensitivity analysis, susceptibility testing, sensitivity testing) are used by medical professionals to dictate the correct antibiotic treatment for an infection, inflammation, or contamination. Due to certain bacteria being resistant to common antibiotics, meaning the prescription can’t kill the bacteria, sensitivity analysis may be ordered to assist the doctor to see if the bacteria causing the infection is resistant to the treatment.

Susceptible — Bacteria cannot grow if the antibiotic is present and is effective against the infection
Intermediate — A higher dose of the antibiotic is needed to prevent the growth of the bacteria
Resistant — Bacteria can grow if the antibiotic is present and is ineffective against the infection

Germs Found in Stool Sample

Safety Protocols for Stool Sample Testing

Lab technicians and medical personnel working with stool specimens often face potential health hazards including, but not limited to, ingestion of bacteria and germs, ingestion of eggs or cyst, infection, penetrated skin by larvae, and various respirable infections and viruses. While these risks carry a wide spectrum of health hazards, they can be minimized by implementing safety precautions and secondary engineering controls; such as:

Wear PPE — Safety Goggles/ Glasses | Gloves | Laboratory Coat
Utilize biological safety cabinets or personalized cleanrooms
Remove all personal items from the immediate work area
No eating, drinking, smoking, application of cosmetics, or manipulation of contact lenses or glasses in the work area
Disinfect and decontaminate work area daily and after any spill or exposure to the surface area or material and tools used
Before leaving the work area, ensure that all PPE is removed and hands are washed before returning to the regular environment

Stool Culture + Sentry Air

While many hoods present a solution to protect the user from the health hazards from taking a stool sample, our hoods offer the highest level of CFM (cubic feet per minute) in the industry while removing the toxins from the environment through a ductless design.

Learn more about Stool Culture Hoods