wie lange darf man eine stuhlprobe aufbewahren — what can you do yourself?

The storage time for a stool sample depends on the specific test. For typical home tests (e.g., microbiome, occult blood): at room temperature up to 24 hours, refrigerated (2–8 °C) up to 3–5 days. Longer storage or freezing can degrade DNA and alter bacterial composition. What you can do yourself: Collect the sample immediately after bowel movement, use the provided tube and buffer, and mail it the same day if possible. If needed, refrigerate briefly (max. 24 h) – but never freeze unless the test kit explicitly allows it. Caution: Diarrhea or blood in the stool often makes the sample invalid. Always follow your test provider's instructions (e.g., MyBody-X). These recommendations are based on general laboratory practice, not on specific evidence from the provided context.