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Veterinary Medicine vocabulary · Diagnostics and Laboratory Tests

Faecal sample

Meaning in veterinary medicine, with examples

/ˈfiːkəl ˈsɑːmpəl/nounCore term

In veterinary medicine, faecal sample means: A small amount of an animal's droppings collected for laboratory tests, for example to look for worm eggs, bacteria or blood. US spelling: fecal.

In Turkish: dışkı örneği, gaita örneği

How it is used

Vets ask owners to bring a fresh faecal sample in a pot. Common tests are faecal egg counts (FEC), flotation and faecal PCR panels. Owners say poo (UK) or poop (US); the clinical word is faeces.

Example sentences

  1. Could you bring in a faecal sample from three different days?

  2. The faecal sample was positive for Giardia.

Common collocations

  • fresh faecal sample
  • pooled faecal sample
  • faecal egg count
  • submit a faecal sample
  • dewormingGiving an animal medicine to kill or remove internal worms such as roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms.
  • parasiteAn organism that lives on or inside an animal and feeds from it, such as fleas, ticks and mites on the outside or worms and protozoa on the inside.
  • diarrhoeaLoose or liquid faeces passed more often than normal, a sign of a problem in the intestines. US spelling: diarrhea.
  • urinalysisA laboratory examination of a urine sample that checks its concentration, chemistry, cells, crystals and bacteria.

More terms: Diagnostics and Laboratory Tests

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.