Dysentery laboratory findings

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Kalsang Dolma, M.B.B.S.[2]

Laboratory Findings

Fecal leukocytes and occult blood : The ability of these tests to diagnose the presence of dysentery is variable

Fecal lactoferrin : Lactoferrin is a marker for fecal leukocytes and has sensitivity and specificity ranging from 90 to 100 percent in distinguishing inflammatory diarrhea from noninflammatory causes. This test is not widely used.
Cultures of stool samples are examined in order to identify the organism causing dysentery. Usually, several samples must be obtained due to the changing number of amoeba, which changes daily.
Blood tests can be used to measure abnormalities in the levels of essential minerals and salts.