Name of the Procedure:

Leukocyte Assessment, Fecal, Qualitative or Semiquantitative

Summary

Leukocyte assessment in fecal samples is a diagnostic test to identify white blood cells (leukocytes) present in stool. This test helps determine if there is inflammation in the intestines, which can be a sign of various gastrointestinal conditions.

Purpose

To detect the presence of white blood cells in the stool, which can indicate intestinal inflammation or infection. The goal is to diagnose conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), infections, or other gastrointestinal disorders.

Indications

• Persistent diarrhea
• Blood or mucus in the stool
• Unexplained abdominal pain
• Suspected inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis)
• Suspected bacterial infections (e.g., Salmonella, Shigella)

Preparation

• No special preparation is required, but it's important to collect fresh stool sample.
• The patient may be advised to avoid certain medications that could affect test results, such as antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs.

Procedure Description

1. The patient collects a stool sample using a clean, dry container.
2. The sample is then sent to a laboratory.
3. In the lab, a technician examines the stool sample under a microscope to identify and count white blood cells.
4. The assessment can be qualitative (present/absent) or semiquantitative (approximate quantity).

No anesthesia or sedation is needed as this is a non-invasive test involving only stool sample collection.

Duration

The sample collection takes a few minutes. Lab analysis typically takes a few hours to a couple of days, depending on the facility's processing time.

Setting

• Outpatient clinic
• Doctor's office
• At home for sample collection; laboratory for analysis

Personnel

• Primary care provider or gastroenterologist for interpretation
• Laboratory technician or medical technologist for analysis

Risks and Complications

• The procedure is safe and non-invasive; there are no associated risks or complications.

Benefits

• Provides a quick and non-invasive diagnostic tool
• Helps in identifying the cause of gastrointestinal symptoms
• Aids in differentiating between inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions

Recovery

• No recovery time is needed as it is a non-invasive test.
• Normal activities can be resumed immediately after sample collection.

Alternatives

• Blood tests (e.g., C-reactive protein, ESR)
• Endoscopic procedures (e.g., colonoscopy)
• Imaging studies (e.g., CT scan, MRI)

While these alternatives can provide additional information, they may be more invasive, time-consuming, or expensive.

Patient Experience

The patient will need to collect a stool sample, which may be uncomfortable for some but is straightforward and painless. There is no pain or discomfort associated with the actual analysis of the sample. Results will be communicated by the healthcare provider, who will discuss any necessary follow-up steps based on the findings.