Stool samples can help doctors diagnose some health conditions. Tips for collecting a stool sample include urinating before collecting the sample and using any tools that the sample kit provides.

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.

A calprotectin stool test detects levels of calprotectin in stool. This protein indicates bowel inflammation. It can help diagnose and monitor conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A ...