Exams and Tests

If the patient visits a doctor or a hospital emergency department because they think they may have food poisoning, a thorough examination will be performed, including measurements of blood pressure, pulse, breathing rate, and temperature. The doctor will perform a physical exam, which screens for outward signs and symptoms of the illness. They will assess how dehydrated the patient is and examine the abdominal area to make sure the illness is not serious.

• The doctor may need to do a rectal examination. The doctor performs this test by inserting a lubricated and gloved finger gently into the rectum. The purpose is to make sure there are no breaks in the rectal wall. A sample of stool is taken and tested for blood and mucus. In some cases, a sample of stool or vomit can be sent to the laboratory for further testing to find out which toxin caused the illness. In a majority of cases, a specific cause is not found.



• A urine sample helps assess how dehydrated the patient is and may indicate possible kidney damage.



• Blood tests may be performed to determine the seriousness of the illness. An x-ray of the abdomen or a CT scan may be taken if the doctor suspects your symptoms may be caused by another illness.