An abdominal ultrasound is an imaging test which uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of organs and blood vessels in your abdomen. 

Why Do You Need an Abdominal Ultrasound? 

You may require an abdominal ultrasound to check your: 

• Digestive system. 

• Abdominal blood vessels. 

• Spleen. 

• Kidneys. 

• Bladder. 

Which Conditions Can an Abdominal Ultrasound Detect? 

An abdominal ultrasound can help diagnose: 

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm. 

• Bladder stones.

• Liver disease. 

• Kidney disease. 

• Pancreatitis. 

• Enlarged spleen. 

• Abdominal cysts or tumours. 

• Abdominal cancers. 

What Happens During an Abdominal Ultrasound? 

During the test, your doctor will: 

• Apply gel to your abdomen 

• Gently move the ultrasound probe on top of the gel. 

• Analyze the results on the monitor. 

• Wipe off the gel. 

A stool test analyses for pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites in your poop that can make you sick. It can also diagnose other signs including hidden blood. 

Why Do You Need a Stool Culture? 

You may need a stool culture if you have: 

• Anal fissures. 

• Anaemia. 

• Colitis. 

• Colorectal cancer. 

• Colon polyps. 

• Diverticulosis. 

• Pancreatic insufficiency. 

• Gastrointestinal bleeding. 

• Haemorrhoids 

• Inflammatory bowel disease. 

• Stomach ulcers. 

What Are the Types of Stool Tests? 

There are different stool tests for each purpose, your doctor may suggest any of the below: 

• Fecal occult blood test (FOBT): 

This test looks for traces of blood in your faeces. A positive result may indicate bleeding somewhere in your digestive tract. 

• FIT-DNA: 

Like FOBT, this test also detects the amount of blood in your faeces but it also detects altered DNA. 

• Test for infection: 

This test detects the presence of germs in your faeces by either growing them or looking at them under the microscope.