Fecal pH test

Quality 0.50 · 2 views · Updated 2 months ago

title: "Fecal pH test" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["stool-tests"] topic_path: "general/stool-tests" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fecal_pH_test" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox diagnostic"]

FieldValue
nameFecal pH test
synonymsfaecal pH test, stool acidity test
ICD10
LOINC
::

| name = Fecal pH test | image = | alt = | caption = | pronounce = | synonyms = faecal pH test, stool acidity test | DiseasesDB = | ICD10 = | ICD9 = | ICDO = | MedlinePlus = | eMedicine = | MeshID = | LOINC = | reference_range =

A faecal pH test is one where a specimen of faeces is tested for acidity in order to diagnose a medical condition.

The pH of human faeces is variable but the average is pH 6.6 (acidic) for normal faeces. A lower faecal pH (very acidic stool) can indicate a digestive problem such poor absorption of carbohydrates or fats, lactose intolerance, an infection such as E. coli or rotavirus, or overgrowth of acid-producing bacteria (such as lactic acid bacteria).

Test procedure

The test is fast and can be performed in a doctor's office. A patient must not be receiving antibiotics. At least half a milliliter of feces is collected, and a strip of nitrazine paper is dipped in the sample and compared against a color scale. A pH of less than 5.5 indicates an acidic sample.

Results

Unhealthy individuals with a higher or lower pH rate have been observed having a higher mortality rate. A high alkaline pH rating is associated with the body's inability to create enough acid along with undigested food.

References

References

  1. "010991: Stool pH".
  2. (December 2024). "Gut physiology and environment explain variations in human gut microbiome composition and metabolism". Nature Microbiology.
  3. Ben. (2019-02-09). "What is Stool PH? High and low values {{!}} Lab results explained".
  4. "Point-of-Care Testing, Fecal pH Measurement".
  5. (13 June 2023). "eMedicine - Gastroenteritis, Bacterial : Article by Jennifer Lynn Bonheur, MD".
  6. (July 2012). "Prognostic impact of fecal pH in critically ill patients". Critical Care.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

stool-tests