A couple of comments -
if you are worried about taking your snake to the vet - and it seems healthy but you would like some reassurance - just take a fecal sample in without the animal. If you do decide to get the animal looked over to - make sure the vet practises good hygiene and washes hands before touching the animal, and uses sterilized equipment to help opening the mouth etc.. This sounds stupid to say, and it is hard to not feel patronizing when checking that the vet has done all this, but I have been to a vets where he didn't clean tools between looking at some different reptiles - what better way to pass along whatever infection there is. Put the health of your animals first and your feelings secondary. If he is offended - he isn't a good vet IMO.
the fecal sample is pretty useless if it is all dried out, and needs to be as fresh as possible. as soon as you see a wet one on the paper towels get some clingwrap/clingfilm/plastic wrap and pick the fecal up in that, and smooth the wrap over the poop so there is no air with it, and then twist the wrap closed so no air can get in and put the sample in the fridge. If you don't have a separate reptile fridge and you don't like the idea of snake poop near your Sunday roast, double or triple bag it.
as soon as you can - get the sample to the vet, that day or next morning is fine - although if you had to you could wait another day as long as the sample isn't drying out
the vet should do two things - a smear and a float
the smear is simply smearing some poop on a slide and looking under a microscope to see for parasites etc. a float involves mixing the poop with a solution of a certain density where most matter e.g. fur will sink, but parasite eggs will float. The top surface of the float is transferred to a microscope slide and viewed. Depending on the type of solution, and how long the float is left to float will affect what can be seen. Both of these involve looking at fecal matter but in different ways so different things may be identified. It isn't a case where one or the other will do, you should have both done.
I have a very good snake vet, but I also have been to some self-proclaimed "best reptile vet in the state" who don't even know how to pick up the reptile I have taken in, let alone what to look for. I do advise finding a vet before you need one, as 'phoning around while your animal is very sick is no fun - much better to have established a relationship with a good vet beforehand whilst all is well. If you live in or near Kansas City I would be very happy to recommend mine to you. Equally I can also speak for an extremely good one in Greeley Colorado.
I would echo the previous sentiments on quarantine - this could not be more important - don't take chances.
Skye
