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CostHelper > Health & Personal Care  > Medical Specialties & Departments > Stool Testing

Stool Testing Cost

How Much Does Stool Testing Cost?
 
average costOver-the-Counter Test Kits: $5-$35high costProfessional Testing: $40-$100

Stool testing is done to identify bacteria or viruses that might be causing problems in a patient. A stool culture is collected and placed under conditions that promote the growth of bacteria. The type of infection is identified from a chemical analysis of the growth on the stool sample.

Typical costs:

  • Over-the-counter kits are available for home stool testing. The kits, available in most pharmacies, cost about $5-$35. The Colon Health Check Test[1] is $35 and takes about five minutes to complete. The test screens for early signs of colon cancer and checks for blood in the stool. The EZ Detect Stool Blood Test costs $6-$10 at various retail outlets. It checks the stool sample for blood which can be an indicator of bleeding ulcers, hemorrhoids, polyps, colitis or cancer.
  • Professional labs offer stool culture testing services for about $40-$100. First Choice Labs USA[2] provides stool testing services from $45-$95, depending on the extent of the testing. MyMedLab charges $33-$41 for a basic stool culture[3] and $52-$63 for the more extensive testing for parasites[4] in stool.
Related articles: Colonoscopy, Virtual Colonoscopy, Health Insurance

What should be included:
  • A home stool testing kit typically includes collection cloths, a package for testing the sample and instructions. Some kits also include a card to record the results and send to a personal physician.
  • Some home testing kits contain a collection jar that is sent to a lab for testing.
  • When working directly with a lab, expect to be given a sterile container for collection of the sample. The sample needs to be immediately sent to the lab or refrigerated. Typically, the lab will allow two to three days for bacteria to grow on the sample before testing it. The bacteria will then be examined and identified under a microscope. Stool samples are also frequently tested for parasites or eggs. WebMD explains in detail[5] the procedure for a stool culture.
Discounts:
  • A stool test might be covered by a medical insurance provider. Contact the insurance provider for specific coverage details.
  • Medicare covers colorectal screening tests for individuals older than 50. The Department of Health and Human Services provides some guidelines on Medicare coverage[6] of certain stool tests.
Shopping for stool testing:
  • Colon Health Magazine[7] is a useful resource for a broad range of information relating to colon health and colorectal cancer.
  • Bronson Health, a Michigan-based hospital, provides a patient's guide to stool collection.
Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
 
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments
Thought it was a typo
Amount: $1,429.30
Posted by: Jay Barry in Brooklyn, NY.Posted: July 20th, 2023 12:07PM
Type of Test: Stool
It wasn't a typo...this is their standard charge. Lab tech was incredibly reluctant to give me that information, but eventually did with very little empathy.
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Stool Lab Test
Amount: $919.00
Posted by: RBR in Minneapolis, MN.Posted: July 24th, 2022 02:07PM
Type of Test: Test panel for bacteria
Gotta love how the clinics upcharge a service like this.
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Stool Sample
Amount: $325.00
Posted by: J Newhouse in Rapid City, SD.Posted: July 29th, 2021 09:07PM
Type of Test: Stool Sample
I am so angry that I was charged so much without knowing it would cost anything. It came back that I had two types of E-coli, but after antibiotics I'm still having abdominal pain and am returning to the doctor tomorrow. I am very frustrated that today I received a notice in the mail that I owe $693 after a deductible from my first Urgent Care visit. There should be more upfront communication, because my insurance stated I only have a $25 copay for Urgent care and primary care.
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Is this a rip off
Amount: $300.00
Posted by: Georgiy Levashovo in Los Angeles, CA.Posted: April 5th, 2021 12:04PM
Type of Test: Stool Panel test
I took the same test a year ago and was charged $500 cash. I decided to take this test this year to see if bacteria was gone, and decided to use insurance. The bill went up to $2,500. What is going on here? Is it rip off or I am missing info casch vs. Insurance?
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Cost of stool test
Amount: $731.00
Posted by: Karen L Eoppolo in Wilmington, DE.Posted: March 7th, 2021 04:03PM
Type of Test: Stool
Why would stool sample test cost over $700 after insurance claim? Outrageous! What the blank is going on with healthcare when I'm paying for health coverage and still being charged this amount for a poop test?
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Comprehensive stool sample
Amount: $2,700.00
Posted by: Remmy6981 in Bartonsville, PA.Posted: May 1st, 2020 07:05PM
Type of Test: Comprehensive stool sample
Rip off. Costa less at the vet
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Stool bacterial testing
Amount: $544.00
Posted by: Sheree in Ruidoso, NM.Posted: July 19th, 2019 07:07AM
Type of Test: Fecal bacteria
I was shocked when I got billed for over $500.00 for one test. This lab ripped me off, and my doctor never informed me of the possible cost.
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Absolutely blind sided
Amount: $511.00
Posted by: [email protected] in Rochester, NY.Posted: May 24th, 2019 10:05AM
Type of Test: ladna-dna/rna problem tq 6-11, clostridi
500 of the bill was simply for the la dna/rna probe tq 6-11 which supposedly checks for a multitude of issues (from my chart it looks like six)
I was not expecting this type of bill!! Totally caught off gaurd
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Stool lab test
Amount: $3,500.00
Posted by: Macat in Abilene, TX.Posted: February 27th, 2019 07:02PM
Type of Test: Stool comprehensive panel
It is incredible that hospital covered so much money for a lab test that must be cheaper than 100 $.
Health insurance negotiated with the hospital to pay 925 $ and at the end I paid 550 $ for the deductible.
Anyway, crazy amount of money for this test!
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Comprehensive Stool panel testing
Amount: $3,300.00
Posted by: danadear in Gastonia, NC.Posted: March 13th, 2018 07:03AM
Type of Test: fecal stool test
Ordered to rule out cdiff. This was a ridiclas amount charged and have yet to find anyone that has paid as much.
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Lab test
Amount: $1,875.00
Posted by: Charles KNOBLAUCH in Hoffman estates, MN.Posted: February 6th, 2018 11:02AM
Type of Test: Stool culture
Rip
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Rip off
Amount: $2,066.00
Posted by: MMartini in Carlsbad, NM.Posted: January 11th, 2018 07:01PM
Type of Test: Stool culture
I cannot believe the amount I have been charged for a stool test. I am furious and I have no idea on how Im going to pay for it.
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Stool Culture Pricing
Amount: $1,250.00
Posted by: RogerCA in Lafayette, LA.Posted: February 10th, 2015 05:02AM
Type of Test: Stool Culture
I feel I was seriously ripped off as others have been by the insurance/medical collaboration. When I got my bill that the insurance company covered only about $700 I was floored, but already committed. Veterinarians perform very similar tests for about $100. I am going to see if I can get the same results through other labs for less and post here. I hope others do the same.
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cost too much for stool sample testing
Amount: $1,265.00
Posted by: larryr in aurora, CO.Posted: May 31st, 2013 08:05AM
Type of Test: stool
Lactoferrin $304, Metabolic panel $583, lipase $377, culture $370, campylobacter $121, e coli $121, again e coli $497, again e coli 497, dif tox $383 O&P $333 another O&P 393 all on ONE stool sample. total of $4200 for one stool sample
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What People Are Paying
Amount: $2,104.00
Posted by: Stockton Mike in Stockton, CA.Posted: October 1st, 2012 06:10PM
Type of Test: Stool lab test
I went to San Joaquin General Hospital in French Camp C.A. and all they did was take a stool sample and my bill is $2,104.00 plus another $415.00 physician fee. Is this price right? They said they would call me four days later if there was a problem and I was fine two days later so I felt no need to call them and was happy they didn't call me. This bill however seems beyond ridiculous to me.
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Cost too much on Stool bacterial lab tests
Amount: $1,340.00
Posted by: TomW in Columbus, IN.Posted: June 29th, 2012 11:06AM
Type of Test: Stool lab test
Please help me to see if these charges are normal for just a stool lab test:rnClostridium Diff Toxin Test $230rnCryptonsporidium AG $169rnGiardia Lamblia $169rnOva and Parasites Stool $165rnRotavirus $284rnStool Culture $37rnAditional Stool Pathogens $52rnCampylobacter EIA $52rnTrichrome Stain $109rnEscherechia Coli 0157 Antigen $73rnrnIf not normal, what is the normal range?
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External Resources:
  1.  www.colonhealthcheck.com/product.html
  2.  firstchoicelabsusa.com/liver.htm
  3.  /www.mymedlab.com/infection/culture-stool
  4.  /www.mymedlab.com/infection/ova-parasites-op
  5.  www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/stool-culture
  6.  www.cmms.hhs.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/ncd-details.aspx?NCDId=167&ncd...
  7.  www.colonhealthmagazine.com/
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