HyStool bags offer several advantages for a laboratory. The HyStool kit easily fits inside a standard sized envelope and can be sent out cost effectively to patients using the standard postal service.

HyStool should be stored in a cool dry environment. Do not leave in a warm room with potential condensation as the water in the air will start to affect the bag reducing it’s strength and potentially causing the bag to burst when it is being used.

HyStool is currently used in some Paediatric cases as it makes the collection of samples from children simple. However children or infirm adults should not be allowed to use the bags if unsupervised.

When passing a stool it is unlikely that you will know the consistency of the stool. The “Bristol Stool Chart” classifies stools into seven types ranging from from hard, separate lumps (type 1) to watery diarrhea (type 7). If there is water content present in the stool then that water can eat into the bag and cause it to burst. Toilet paper in the bottom of the HyStool bag helps prevent direct contact between a moist stool and the bag, and reduces the chances of the bag bursting. HyStool is not suitable for cases involving diarrhea.

The toilet seat should be completely dry before attaching the HyStool bag. If there is condensation in the air from a hot shower, or the seat has been wiped with a damp cloth then the stickers might not stick properly. Wait until the condensation has dispersed and / or use a dry cloth / paper towl to dry the seat before attaching the bag.

HyStool bags are biodegradable. They are made from PVOH which is a synthetic polymer that is water-soluble and can biodegrade under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. When consumed by microorganisms in wastewater treatment, PVOH breaks down into carbon dioxide and water.

PVOH is recognised as being environmentally friendly. When exposed to moisture and microorganisms PVOH breaks down into non toxic components. The bags degrade into water and carbon dioxide. Unlike non-degradable polymers PVOH does not generate microploastics.

PVOH is listed on the EPA’s Safer Choice and Safer Chemical Ingredients lists.

Ensure the toilet seat is completely dry and then attach the HyStool bag to the seat. There are four stickers on each bag. Peel the backing paper from each sticker one at a time and use the stickers to attach the bag to the seat. Do NOT peel the backing from all 4 stickers and then try to attach the bag as the uncovered stickers can come entangled in the bag.

Attach the bag towards the rear of the seat leaving a gap at the front of the toilet. We advise people to go for a pee before doing any test and the gap at the front is to allow any accidentally discharged urine to miss the bag. Urine going into the bag during a test may cause the bag to burst.

HyStool was designed with the NHS bowel screening test in mind. The dimensions of the folded bag will fit inside the envelope used by the NHS without increasing the postage weight of the kit.

HyStool is made from material that is 100% water soluble, however it takes time for the bag to dissolve. Air trapped in the bag during a flush can cause the bag to float to the surface of the water and not flush away. If this happens simply wait a minute or two and flush again.

HyStool bags are suitable for use with European and American toilets that use water to flush. We do not recommend the use of the bags with any chemical or other type of toilet that does not use water to flush matter away.

HyStool is simple to use and as hygienic as possible. The patient simply attaches the HyStool bag to the toilet seat. There is no need to reach inside a potentially contaminated toilet bowl to fit it. They simply use the toilet as normal and collect a stool sample from the bag. The HyStool bag and contents are then simply flushed away. There is no need to retrieve anything from the toilet after use. Because HyStool is 100% water soluble it will safely flush away without causing any blockages.

Prepare the toilet by making sure the toilet seat is completely dry. If not dry then the stickers on the bag might not adhere.
Go for a pee before doing the test. HyStool bags are water soluble and will start to dissolve on contact with water. Going for a pee
before doing the test reduces the chances of urine being released into the bag.
Put some toilet paper into the bottom of the bag before doing a test. Toilet paper helps prevent a potentially moist stool from directly touching the bag.

HyStool bags are 100% water soluble so will dissolve in water.

HyStool bags to not contain any chemicals. The bags will degrade into carbon dioxide and water without leaving any micro plastics.