Stool Culture / Sensitivity Test in Kathmandu

About this test

When diarrhoea will not settle, or when it comes with fever, abdominal cramps, or blood and mucus in the motion, a stool culture is the test that names the organism responsible. In the laboratory we place a small portion of your faeces onto special growth media and incubate it, watching over two to three days for disease-causing bacteria to grow — chiefly Salmonella (the cause of typhoid and food poisoning), Shigella (bacillary dysentery), pathogenic Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, and Campylobacter. The harmless bacteria that normally live in everyone's gut are recognised and ignored. Once a true pathogen is isolated, we perform the sensitivity step: the organism is exposed to a panel of antibiotics so your doctor knows exactly which drug will work and which will not. This matters greatly in Kathmandu, where antibiotic resistance — particularly in typhoidal Salmonella — has been rising, and prescribing blindly can fail or prolong illness. A culture is usually ordered for diarrhoea lasting more than a few days, dysentery, suspected typhoid or cholera during the monsoon and post-flood months, food-poisoning outbreaks, or for food handlers and travellers needing clearance. It is often interpreted alongside a stool routine and microscopy (which detects parasites, amoebae, and inflammatory cells) and, in enteric fever, blood culture. A negative result is reassuring but does not exclude viral causes such as rotavirus, which culture cannot detect.

Sample type

Stool (fresh)

Preparation

No fasting needed. Collect a fresh stool sample in the sterile container we provide and bring it to the lab within an hour or two — do not refrigerate unless we advise it. Importantly, the sample should be collected BEFORE starting any antibiotic; recent antibiotic use can suppress the bacteria and give a falsely negative result. Tell us if you have travelled recently or eaten outside food.

Turnaround time

Reports for Stool Culture / Sensitivity are typically ready within: 72 Hours. Reports can be collected at the clinic during opening hours or shared via WhatsApp once they are ready.

Also known as

Other microbiology tests we run

These are routinely ordered alongside Stool Culture / Sensitivity or as part of the same diagnostic workup.

How to book

WhatsApp is the fastest way — message us with the test name and your preferred time, and we'll confirm a slot the same day. You can also walk into the clinic at Rumba Chowk, Sanobharang any day between 7AM and 8PM, or fill in our online booking form.