Stuhlprobe: what are common causes?

A stool sample is commonly used to analyze the gut microbiome, detect pathogens or occult blood (iFOBT), and measure inflammation markers like calprotectin. Common causes of abnormal results include: 1) Dysbiosis due to low-fiber diet, antibiotics, or chronic stress, 2) Infections with bacteria (e.g., Campylobacter, Salmonella), viruses, or parasites, 3) Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn's or ulcerative colitis, 4) Food intolerances (lactose, fructose), and 5) Medications (NSAIDs, proton pump inhibitors). Important: A microbiome test can show diversity and potential dysbiosis but does not diagnose specific conditions. Results should be seen as screening or trend, not standalone diagnosis. For persistent symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea, blood in stool), medical evaluation with targeted stool cultures or colonoscopy is needed. Evidence for the utility of home microbiome tests is still limited; many associations are mechanistic or observational. Caveat: Stool samples must be collected correctly and processed promptly to avoid artifacts.