A stool culture is done to: 1  Find the cause of symptoms. 2  Find and identify certain types of organisms that are causing infections or diseases. 3  Identify a person who may not have any symptoms of disease but who carries bacteria that can spread infection to others. 4  Find out if treatment for an infection has worked as it should.
Meat may stay in the intestines for 24-72 hours and still depend on its type. Likewise, red meat in particular takes 1-3 days to complete the digestion process because of fat content and high protein, according to Lisa Cicciarello Andrews of University of Cincinnati.
Check the stomach for signs of digestion. Most meals leave the stomach and enter the large intestine within three or four hours. This method is not entirely accurate for determining time of death though, as many things can have a factor in food digestion such as exercise after eating.