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.

An at-home FIT test (Fecal Immunochemical Test) is one of the easiest ways to screen for colon cancer. This short explainer video shows who needs a FIT test, how it works, and how to ask your doctor ...

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 ...

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends colorectal cancer screening for all adults starting at age 45. After age 75, the task force recommends talking with your health care team to decide ...

March marks the beginning of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. At-home stool tests can be an easier way to screen for colorectal cancer than a dreaded colonoscopy. As the rates of the cancer continue ...

Pancreatic elastase is the digestive enzyme the pancreas produces to help digest food. Doctors can measure elastase levels by testing a stool sample. Low levels could indicate exocrine pancreatic ...

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: I’m a 72-year-old man, and I was supposed to get a colonoscopy last year. I was surprised when my insurance company sent me an at-home kit to do a colon cancer screening. It was a lot easier than a ...