I used to work in a lab where at that time, we did not have any plastic wide-mouthed containers for stool samples. So, patients can submit stool specimens using any containers they can find. There was one specimen where the container was a clear, transparent, 32-oz Mason jar, and where you can literally see all the poop inside—color, consistency, shape, diameter of the poop, etc.! Once you see it, you can’t really unsee it.
There was this one stool specimen I was working on that was inside a tightly-closed camera film container/canister. This lab was located in a tropical area where the temperature outside is always warm or even hot.
Well, I opened this container and I heard a little pop..and instantly I could feel some splatter on my lips and other parts of my face! OH SHIT ?—literally!! In my mind, I could just feel the E. coli and possibly Amoeba on my skin. I had to run to the nearest bathroom to disinfect my face. FYI, not all labs process poop under a hood.
To my fellow lab techs, be careful out there; and keep in mind, specimen container matters.
Submitted by:
Ferdie Rodriguez
Laboratory Manager
Utah, USA
