When a patient presents to the hospital with symptoms suggestive of cholera, a physical examination is performed by a physician. To confirm the diagnosis of cholera definitively, a stool (fecal) sample is collected from the patient and sent to a laboratory. The collected stool sample is then examined under a specialized microscope. If the Vibrio cholerae bacterium is identified in the stool test, a diagnosis of cholera is made, and a treatment plan is subsequently developed. Early diagnosis of the disease significantly increases the chances of successful treatment.