Stool
Clostridium differentiation
Identifies Clostridium species in stool. Detects pathogenic and transient bacteria.
€ 165,00
All tests
Gut · Stool
Clostridium tetani
The amount of Clostridium tetani in the stool, a bacterium from soil and manure; not a test for tetanus.
At a glance
- Measured in stool
- In 1 test panel
- No special preparation
Explanation
Clostridium tetani: what is measured?
Billions of bacteria live in the large intestine, together called the gut flora or gut microbiome. Among other things, they break down fiber that humans cannot digest themselves, and in doing so make substances such as short-chain fatty acids. The laboratory examines a portion of stool and determines how much of a bacterial group, a bacterial species or such a substance it contains, or calculates a derived value from this, such as a ratio or a score. This is done with a culture or by detecting the genetic material (DNA) of bacteria; the method differs per test.
What can it detect?
- Presence of Clostridium tetani in the stool. The bacterium is found in soil and in the gut and manure of animals.
- Tetanus only develops when spores of the bacterium enter the body through a wound, and it does not spread from person to person. The analysis is not a test for tetanus and says nothing about your protection from vaccination.
Result
What does the result mean?
Clostridium tetani too high
A value above the laboratory's reference value means that this bacterium, substance or calculated value is more abundant in this portion of stool than in the people the laboratory compares with. On its own, this says nothing about your health: the gut flora differs greatly from person to person and can change from day to day. Common harmless causes are your eating pattern, a recent course of antibiotics, acid-reducing medicines, probiotics, a recent stomach flu and loose or, on the contrary, hard stools. There are no symptoms that go with a raised value, and a raised value does not prove that symptoms are caused by the gut flora.
Clostridium tetani too low
A value below the laboratory's reference value means that this bacterium, substance or calculated value is less present in this portion of stool or was not found. This too says nothing about your health on its own. A low value is common after a course of antibiotics, with little fiber in the diet, with loose stools or simply because of differences between people and between days. A low value does not mean that your gut is missing something that needs to be topped up, and there are no symptoms that go with it.
After an abnormal result
For the GP, an abnormal value in the gut flora is usually no reason for further tests or treatment. With symptoms, the GP looks at the symptoms themselves and, if needed, arranges tests according to the guideline, for example for celiac disease, bowel inflammation or a gut infection. According to international experts, the result is not a basis for a diet, supplements or antibiotics.
Reliability
How reliable is the test?
Gut flora testing describes which bacteria are in a portion of stool. It has not been shown that the result helps in making a diagnosis or choosing a treatment, in people with or without symptoms. According to the guideline on irritable bowel syndrome, there is no test that can confirm this condition. An international group of experts concluded in 2025 that there is not enough evidence to use gut flora testing in healthcare, that there are no fixed healthy reference values and that there is no generally accepted definition of dysbiosis. According to the MDL Fonds (Dutch digestive health foundation), too, we do not yet know exactly what a healthy gut flora is; the result is therefore a description, not a medical judgment.
What can affect the result?
- The composition differs greatly from person to person and can change from day to day; a second portion of stool can give a different result.
- Diet, antibiotics, acid-reducing medicines, laxatives, probiotics and a recent gut infection affect the result.
- Methods and reference values are not standardized; results from different laboratories or methods cannot be compared with each other.
- Stool mainly shows the bacteria in the last part of the large intestine, not those in the small intestine or on the gut wall.
Who it is for
Who is the test useful for?
Useful for
The result is a description of your gut flora at one moment, with no established medical significance, whether or not you have symptoms. The test is not needed to stay healthy and does not explain bowel symptoms. With bowel symptoms, the GP usually finds the cause through questions and a physical examination, supplemented if needed with targeted blood or stool tests, for example for celiac disease or bowel inflammation. With blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss or new bowel symptoms after the age of 50, this test is no substitute for an examination by the GP.
How common is it?
Because there is no fixed definition of an abnormal gut flora, there are no figures on how common it is. Bowel symptoms without a clear cause are common, though: according to the guideline, irritable bowel syndrome affects about 4 in 100 adults in the Netherlands (by the strictest criteria).
Dutch medical specialists' guideline (FMS) on irritable bowel syndrome (NHG and NVMDL)
Get tested
Clostridium tetani: test panels
Clostridium tetani is part of these test panels. You order online and have your blood drawn at a collection point or collect the sample at home.
Evidence
Sources
This explanation is based on Dutch guidelines and independent information. It is general information, not a diagnosis. Discuss an abnormal result with your GP.
More about risks and results- Porcari S, et al. International consensus statement on microbiome testing in clinical practice. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2025;10:154-67 (open-access versie, Wageningen University & Research)
- FMS Richtlijnendatabase: Prikkelbaredarmsyndroom, module Diagnostiek PDS
- NHG-Standaard Prikkelbaredarmsyndroom (PDS)
- Thuisarts.nl: Ik heb het prikkelbare-darm-syndroom (PDS)
- MDL Fonds: Alles over je darmmicrobioom
- RIVM, LCI-richtlijn Tetanus
More explanations
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