Automatic stool analyzer detection process and clinical application

The application of the automatic stool analyzer has greatly simplified the stool detection process and improved the detection efficiency and accuracy. In clinical practice, it provides doctors with valuable diagnostic information, which helps to better understand and treat digestive system diseases. The use of the instrument has greatly improved work efficiency and result accuracy. Reliable results come from quality control at all stages before, during and after analysis.
1. Correct specimen collection:
The quality of the specimen is the primary link. Since the sampling tube is sealed throughout the entire process after sampling, the specimen must be collected strictly in accordance with the collection process. Open the stool collector and you will see a small spoon. If it is formed soft stool, just take one spoon and put it into the collector; if it is a watery stool, take three spoons. Too much stool will block the instrument, and too little stool will not be detected by the instrument. Therefore, when the stool is abnormal, try to retain mucus, pus, blood, and black parts. Too much or too little sampling will affect the test results!

2. Fully automatic stool analyzer test items:
It can detect red blood cells, white blood cells, phagocytes, intestinal mucosal epithelial cells, fat droplets, starch granules, yeast-like fungi, hyphae or mold, Charcot-Reyden crystals, parasites and fecal occult blood in feces. In addition, transferrin, calprotectin, Helicobacter pylori antigen, rotavirus, adenovirus and other items can also be tested, which can be carried out in succession according to clinical needs in the later stage.
3. Clinical significance of test items:
1. Cells: Different numbers of red blood cells may appear in gastrointestinal bleeding or lower gastrointestinal inflammation; leukocytosis may be enteritis, bacillary dysentery and allergic enteritis; phagocytes can be seen in acute bacillary dysentery, acute hemorrhagic enteritis, and occasionally in ulcerative enteritis; intestinal mucosal epithelial cells are rarely seen in the stool of healthy people, and an increase can be seen in colon inflammation and pseudo-mold enteritis.
2. Food residues and crystals: Fat droplets and starch particles belong to the category of food residues. Under normal circumstances, they are rarely seen in feces after food is fully digested. When the digestive function is impaired and lipase or pepsin is lacking, it can cause indigestion or absorption disorders, which are common in steatorrhea, diarrhea, chronic pancreatitis, intestinal hypermotility, etc. caused by various reasons.
3. Etiological examination: Fecal examination is the most direct and reliable method for diagnosing intestinal parasitic infections. When suffering from parasitic diseases, the corresponding parasites or eggs can be detected.
4. Occult blood test (immunoassay): Fecal occult blood test is of great value in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding and tumors. In the case of gastrointestinal malignant tumors, occult blood can be continuously positive, and in ulcer disease, it is intermittently positive.
5. Calprotectin:
(1) Calprotectin is a calcium-binding protein that mainly exists in neutrophils and macrophages and has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and immune-regulating effects. The clinical significance of calprotectin detection is to evaluate the inflammatory response and immune function status;
(2) Differential diagnosis: There is no organic change in irritable bowel syndrome, and the calprotectin detection value is within the normal range, but the calprotectin content in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease is high and not easily destroyed, so its detection value is significantly increased;
(3) Recurrence prediction: Calprotectin will increase 4-6 months before the clinical recurrence of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Calprotectin detection can predict recurrence;
(4) Drug efficacy evaluation: Calprotectin will decrease significantly 3 months after infliximab treatment, so it can be detected whether infliximab has a therapeutic effect;
(5) Postoperative evaluation: The vast majority of Crohn's disease requires surgical treatment, but the postoperative recurrence rate is high. Calprotectin decreases significantly 1 week after Crohn's disease surgery and returns to the normal range 2 months later.
6. Transferrin test: Transferrin in stool can help doctors determine whether there is gastrointestinal bleeding. It can be used as an indicator of intestinal tumors, which is helpful for screening and diagnosing intestinal tumors. It is important for early detection of diseases, guiding treatment and evaluating the progression of diseases.
7. Helicobacter pylori antigen test: Fecal Helicobacter pylori antigen test does not require patients to take any reagents orally. Only stool specimens can be collected to detect whether the subject is infected with Helicobacter pylori without any adverse reactions. Since this method detects Helicobacter pylori antigen, it can reflect the current infection situation and can be used for post-treatment review to judge the efficacy. It can also be used for large-scale epidemiological surveys.
8. Rotavirus antigen test: The main clinical significance of rotavirus detection is to diagnose rotavirus infection. Clinically, rotavirus infection mainly occurs in autumn, also known as autumn diarrhea. It mainly infects children aged 2 to 6 years old and can cause acute diarrhea. Chronic infection is relatively rare. It mainly occurs in immunodeficient children and children with immunosuppression after bone marrow transplantation. The main symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea, which may be accompanied by fever. Adults with rotavirus infection have milder symptoms. A positive rotavirus test indicates an active infection.

The fully automatic stool analyzer can automatically test the above items, and clinicians apply for different items based on the patient's clinical manifestations. The laboratory department will continuously develop new technologies and new projects in response to clinical needs, improve detection methods, and better serve clinicians and patients.