A stool test is a diagnostic procedure that involves analyzing fecal matter, or poop, to check for signs of infection, inflammation, or disease. The specific analysis depends on a person’s symptoms ...

Lindsay Curtis is a health & medical writer in South Florida. She worked as a communications professional for health nonprofits and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of ...

Q: My doctor always encourages me to do a colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening. But I have friends who just do a stool test at home, which seems easier. Why should I go through the hassle of a ...

If you are having digestive symptoms, your doctor may prescribe an at-home stool test, in which you collect stool samples and send them to a lab or bring them to your doctor’s office for analysis.

Fact checked by Jennifer Klump Key Takeaways The American Cancer Society now recommends stool-based tests and a blood test as ...