Nursing Component Task
Nursing procedures & clinical learning

General Nursing (RGN)

COLLECTION OF STOOL SPECIMEN

Stool specimen collection obtains a fresh faecal sample for laboratory examination without contamination by urine, water, cleaning products, or toilet paper. The nurse maintains dignity, uses standard precautions, observes the stool, and sends the correctly labelled specimen promptly.

Purpose

  • Investigate infection, parasites, occult blood, inflammation, or malabsorption
  • Observe and report colour, consistency, mucus, blood, and abnormal contents
  • Provide a suitable specimen for the requested laboratory test

Indications

  • A prescribed stool examination or culture
  • Diarrhoea, suspected gastrointestinal infection, bleeding, or parasitic disease
  • Monitoring a gastrointestinal condition when ordered

Equipment

  • Appropriate sterile or clean specimen container with scoop
  • Laboratory request form and label
  • Bedpan or commode
  • Disposable gloves and apron when indicated
  • Toilet tissue and cleansing supplies
  • Mackintosh and towel
  • Hand hygiene supplies
  • Specimen transport bag

Preparation

  • Check whether antibiotics, laxatives, contrast, or other medicines can affect the requested test and clarify instructions.
  • Assess the patient’s privacy, continence, mobility, and need for a bedpan or assistance.

Procedure steps

  • Verify the request, test requirements, and patient identity using two identifiers.
  • Explain that the specimen must not be mixed with urine, water, tissue, or disinfectant.
  • Provide privacy, a clean bedpan or commode, and assistance according to the patient’s mobility and continence.
  • Label the container before collection with patient identifiers, specimen type, date, and time.
  • Ask the patient to pass stool into the clean receptacle; do not place the specimen in toilet water.
  • Perform hand hygiene and put on gloves and other PPE according to risk assessment.
  • Observe and record the amount and appearance without unnecessary handling.
  • Using the supplied scoop, transfer the required portion, including abnormal areas such as mucus or blood when appropriate, into the container.
  • Close the lid securely, place the container in the specimen bag, remove PPE, and perform hand hygiene.
  • Send the specimen promptly with the completed request form, clean equipment, assist the patient, and document the procedure and findings.

Precautions

  • Follow the specific laboratory instructions for culture, ova and parasite testing, occult blood, or other tests.
  • Do not collect a specimen contaminated with urine, toilet water, disinfectant, or tissue; obtain a new specimen if required.
  • Use contact precautions when indicated and clean the bedpan or commode according to infection-prevention policy.
  • Never leave a labelled specimen unattended or transport it without the request form.

Documentation

  • Record collection time, stool appearance and relevant observations, patient tolerance, and time sent to the laboratory.
  • Document any inability to obtain the specimen or contamination requiring recollection.

Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.

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