What is a white blood cell (WBC) in stool test?
This test looks for white blood cells, also known as leukocytes, in your stool. White blood cells are part of the immune system. They help your body fight off infections and other diseases. If you have leukocytes in your stool, it can be a sign of a bacterial infection that affects the digestive system. These include:
Clostridium difficile (C. diff), an infection that most often happens after someone takes antibiotics. Some people with C. diff could develop life-threatening inflammation of the large intestine. It mostly affects older adults.
Shigellosis, an infection of the lining of the intestine. It is spread by direct contact with the bacteria in the stool. This can happen if an infected person doesn't wash their hands after using the bathroom. The bacteria can then be passed in food or water that this person handles. It mostly affects children under the age of 5.
Salmonella, a bacteria mostly found in undercooked meat, poultry, dairy, and seafood, and inside eggs. You can get the disease if you eat contaminated food.
Campylobacter, a bacteria found in raw or undercooked chicken. It can also be found in unpasteurized milk and contaminated water. You can get the disease by eating or drinking contaminated food.
Leukocytes in stool can also be a sign of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is a type of chronic disorder that causes inflammation in the digestive system. Common types of IBD include ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
Both IBD and bacterial infections of the digestive system can cause severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, and dehydration, a condition in which your body doesn't have enough water or other fluids to function normally. In some cases, these symptoms can be life-threatening.
Other names: leukocytes in stool, stool WBC, fecal leukocyte test, FLT
