Small bowel tissue smear is a laboratory test that checks for disease in a sample of tissue from the small intestine.

A sample of tissue from the small intestine is removed during a procedure called esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). For more information on this procedure, see EGD.

The sample is sent to a laboratory, where it is sliced, stained, and placed on a microscope slide for examination.

For information on how to prepare for the removal of tissue from your small intestine, see EGD.

For information on how it will feel to have a sample of intestinal tissue removed, see EGD.

Your doctor may order this test if you have signs or symptoms of an infection or other disease of the small intestine. In most cases, this test is only done when a diagnosis was not able to be made from stool and blood tests.

Images

Small intestine tissue sample

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Small bowel tissue smear Results

Review Date: 04/18/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; George F Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)