Endoscopy is a way to look inside the body using a flexible or rigid camera called an endoscope. It most commonly evaluates the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including the esophagus, stomach, and colon. It can also be used to examine and treat problems in the bile ducts and pancreas through specialized techniques. In many cases, it allows diagnosis and treatment during the same encounter.
The Fecal Fat Test measures how much fat is present in stool. It is used to evaluate whether the intestine is absorbing dietary fat normally. It is commonly ordered in the workup of chronic diarrhea, greasy stools, or unexplained weight loss. It helps clinicians recognize a pattern called fat malabsorption (steatorrhea).
Fecal Calprotectin is a stool-based laboratory marker that reflects inflammation in the intestines. It measures calprotectin, a protein released mainly by neutrophils (a type of white blood cell). It is commonly used in gastroenterology to help assess symptoms like chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain. It is also used to monitor inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) activity over time.
Occult Blood means blood that is present but not visible to the naked eye. In gastroenterology, it most often refers to small amounts of blood in stool. It is commonly detected using stool-based laboratory tests. It is used in both symptom evaluation and colorectal cancer screening.
Stool Culture is a laboratory test that grows bacteria from a stool (fecal) sample. It is used to identify certain infectious causes of diarrhea and dysentery (bloody diarrhea). It is commonly ordered in emergency, primary care, inpatient, and gastroenterology settings. The goal is to detect specific enteric (intestinal) bacterial pathogens and guide next diagnostic steps.
Rotavirus is a virus that infects the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and can cause acute gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea). It is a common cause of diarrheal illness in infants and young children worldwide. In clinical practice, Rotavirus is discussed as an infectious diagnosis and as a vaccine-preventable disease. It is also a target on stool-based diagnostic tests used to evaluate acute diarrhea.
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes acute gastroenteritis, meaning sudden inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It commonly leads to vomiting, watery diarrhea, and abdominal cramping. It is frequently discussed in outbreak settings such as hospitals, nursing facilities, schools, childcare centers, cruise ships, and households. In clinical practice, it is a leading consideration when many people develop similar “stomach flu” symptoms over a short time.
Clostridioides difficile is a bacterium that can infect the colon and cause diarrhea and colitis. It is best known for illness that develops after antibiotic exposure or healthcare contact. In clinical practice, the term is commonly used when evaluating infectious diarrhea and antibiotic-associated colitis. It is also discussed in infection prevention because it can form hardy spores that spread in healthcare settings.
Shigella is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria that can cause infectious colitis (inflammation of the colon). It is a well-known cause of acute inflammatory diarrhea, sometimes with blood and mucus (dysentery). Shigella is commonly discussed in gastroenterology, infectious diseases, clinical microbiology, and public health. It is also used as a reference organism in laboratory diagnostics, outbreak investigations, and vaccine research.
Salmonella is a genus of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal infection and systemic illness. It is most commonly discussed in the context of foodborne diarrhea and outbreaks. Clinicians also consider Salmonella when evaluating fever, abdominal pain, and bloodstream infection. Microbiology laboratories identify Salmonella using stool or blood testing methods.