Research advances in the collection and preservation of human fecal samples

doi:10.19982/j.issn.1000-6621.20250215

Abstract

Abstract:

Human fecal samples have long been widely used as important biological samples in scientific research and clinical practice due to their advantages of easy collection and non-invasiveness. However, the quality and stability of fecal samples can be easily affected by various factors. Any deviation in the collection or preservation process may alter the physicochemical properties or microbial community structure of the samples, affecting the reliability of downstream testing. This paper focuses on quality control in fecal sample collection and preservation. It reviews existing collection and preservation methods and analyses their applications and differentiated needs in disease diagnosis and prevention, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and fundamental medical research. The aim is to provide scientific researchers with a basis of reference to promote the multidisciplinary research and application of fecal samples.

Key words: Persons, Feces, Specimen, Preservation, biological, Review literature as topic

CLC Number:

Q-3
Q-34

Tao Jing, Xie Mengjiao, Song Yang, Wei Qiang. Research advances in the collection and preservation of human fecal samples[J]. Chinese Journal of Antituberculosis, 2025, 47(10): 1378-1385. doi: 10.19982/j.issn.1000-6621.20250215

Figures/Tables 3

References 82

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采集方法	优点	缺点
自然排便采集法	①操作简单且无创,受试者依从性高 ②适用于绝大多数检测项目	①依赖受试者自主排便能力 ②无法精确反映特定肠道部位情况
直肠拭子采集法	①突破时间限制,可随时采样 ②减少样本暴露于外界环境的时间	①采集量有限 ②受试者依从性低

保存方法	优点	缺点
冷冻保存	①长期保存效果好,可维持微生物活性和核酸稳定性 ②适用于大型样本库	①依赖超低温设备和持续电源供应 ②不适用于偏远地区或资源有限环境
冷藏保存	①适用于短期保存 ②便于运输,运输过程中临时保存	①保存时间有限(通常不超过72h) ②不适用于长期保存
冷冻干燥保存	①样本体积减小,便于运输 ②适用于长期保存	①冷冻干燥过程可能影响部分微生物活性 ②技术设备要求高
干燥保存	①便于运输和储存 ②操作简便	①微生物细胞的代谢活性会降低甚至失活 ②需要妥善包装,防止吸湿和污染
乙醇	①可常温短期保存样本,适用于资源有限的环境 ②价格低廉,易于获取	①易燃性,运输受限 ②长期保存可能导致DNA部分降解
RNAlater^TM稳定液	①可常温短期保存 ②能有效保护RNA完整性,适用于转录组学分析	①可能会降低DNA的产量 ②不适用于微生物组和代谢组学研究
异硫氰酸胍溶液	①可常温短期保存 ②能有效保护DNA和RNA的完整性	①具有一定的毒性,操作需谨慎 ②可能影响后续蛋白质或代谢物分析
商业化试剂盒	①可常温短期保存,便于运输 ②提供了标准化操作流程,提高数据可比性	①可能改变微生物组成或代谢物谱 ②价格和成本可能限制大规模应用

领域分类	应用场景	差异化需求
疾病诊断与防控	消化道与非消化道疾病诊断、消化吸收功能评估、公共卫生监测等	①临床领域标本采集需规范(容器标准化、流程规范) ②公共卫生领域需兼顾规模化样本采集、样本稳定性保障等要求
粪便微生物移植	重建受体肠道菌群平衡(如治疗难辨梭菌感染等)	①供体样本要求严格筛选与快速处理 ②冷冻保存技术需优化(维持菌群活性与多样性) ③开发针对不同微生物特性的差异化保存方法
科学与基础医学研究	疾病机制、免疫调控、微生物组-宿主互作研究	①亟需开发低成本、能高效保护生物分子且不影响后续分析的粪便样本保存试剂 ②完善样本质量控制体系、加强多中心协作标准化操作,并建立动态更新的技术规范