It is done to rule out the presence or absence of ova or intestinal parasite. The doctor may order and say O & P x 3 days. This means 3 consecutive bowel movements in 3 consecutive days. Keep the sample warm and urine free (NCLEX question). You can refrigerate if you can’t run to the lab right away.
If the patient does not go to the bath room everyday how would you check for the stool? If he goes every other day like M W F, then collect the sample M W F. If patient only have bowel 2 x a week M TH then, collect on Monday and Thursday.
Tell the patient if he is waiting for the stool collection to check for parasite, if she is on antibiotic therapy (ABT), that she needs to stop it 7-10 days before starting the stool collection. Antibiotic does not kill the parasite but what happens the parasites gets into hiding.
Tell patient that if he is taking mineral oil or peptobismol, not to take it and don’t schedule for barium enema before collecting stool for Ova and Parasite.