Fecal pH test

A Fecal pH test is one where a speciment of feces is tested for acidity in order to diagnose a medical condition. Human feces is normally alkaline. An acidic stool can indicate a digestive problem such as lactose intolerance^[1] or a contagion such as E coli or Rotavirus.

Additional recommended knowledge

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

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Test procedure

The test is quick and can be done right in a doctor's office. A patient must not be receiving antibiotics. At least half a milleter of fecal matter is collected and a strip of nitrazine paper is dipped in the sample and compared against a color scale. A pH of less than 5.5 indicates an acidic sample.^[2]

References

1. ^ Point-of-Care Testing, Fecal pH Measurement.
2. ^ eMedicine - Gastroenteritis, Bacterial : Article by Jennifer Lynn Bonheur, MD.