Hanging drop test (stool)
Quick answer: This microscope test looks at a drop of fresh stool for the darting movement typical of Vibrio cholerae, the bacteria that cause cholera. It is a quick test when cholera is suspected, such as with sudden, watery 'rice water' diarrhoea.
- SampleStool
- TakesA few minutes to give the sample
- Before the testA fresh liquid stool sample is needed and should reach the lab quickly.
How the test is done
- 1You give a fresh liquid stool sample
- 2The sample is taken to the lab quickly
- 3A drop is placed on a special slide and turned over
- 4The lab watches for fast, darting bacteria under the microscope
What your results can mean
Reading your report
A positive result suggests cholera, and a stool culture is usually done to confirm.
If the result is outside the usual range
Darting bacteria can point to cholera, especially with rice-water diarrhoea during outbreaks. A negative result does not rule out cholera, and stool culture is used to confirm it.
Who usually has this test
People with sudden, severe watery diarrhoea, especially during outbreaks.
Risks and aftercare
There are no risks; keep drinking oral rehydration fluids if you have diarrhoea.
Names and options
Also called: hanging drop, cholera test
Listed by the hospital as
- HANGING DROP TEST, STOOL
Questions about this test
What is rice-water stool?
It is watery, pale stool with flecks of mucus, typical of cholera. It can lead to severe dehydration quickly.
Why must the stool sample be fresh?
The bacteria lose their movement soon after leaving the body. A fresh sample shows the movement clearly.
What should I do while waiting for the result?
Keep drinking oral rehydration solution, and seek urgent care if you feel dizzy, pass little urine or cannot keep fluids down. Dehydration is the main danger.
Related tests
Tamara Hospital & IVF Centre, Rajajinagar
34/3, 10th Cross Road, opp. Vardhaka Sardar Patel School, 1st N Block, 2nd Stage, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru 560010
The hospital is open 24 hours. Call before you come to check the timing for your scan or sample collection.
Get directions ↗IVF Pulse fertility care at Tamara Hospital →
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This page explains each test in general terms so you know what to expect. It is not medical advice: your doctor decides which tests you need and what your results mean. Reference ranges differ between laboratories. Updated 4 November 2026.