Experiment #3 Unit Task

Answer on short bond paper with a 1x1 inch black border and all references of answers should be
written in red ink and at the end of each answer respectively

1. Discuss the clinical significance of the following colors of stool: 10pts

• Light to dark brown - brown stool is considered as normal stool
• Bright red - bright red stool means there is current bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract
• Black / tarry - black stool means there is ongoing bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
• White / gray - light color stool means lack of bile suggestive of pancreatic and liver disease
• Green stool suggests excessive bile production.

Reference: https://www.buoyhealth.com/learn/what-do-stool-colors-mean

2. Explain the principle of fecal occult blood test? 5pts

• A fecal occult blood test is a diagnostic procedure wherein the stool is examined if there is
blood present in the stool. A positive fecal occult blood test may suggest colon cancer or polyps
present in the gastrointestinal tract, to confirm the positive fecal occult blood test a colonoscopy
is then ordered to locate the source of bleeding.

Reference: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/fecal-occult-blood-test/about/pac-20394112

3. Discuss the causes of errors in fecal occult blood test? 5pts

• The most common error in a fecal occult blood tests is there are False-positive results from
patients who consume large amounts of meat and red-colored food, as well as fruit and
vegetables that might alter the stool's color and vitamin supplements.

Reference: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/fecal-occult-blood-test/about/pac-20394112

4. Advantage saline and iodine wet mount 5pts

• It is particularly useful for the detection of live motile trophozoites of E. histolytica, Giardia
lamblia, and Balantidium coli. It is usually more efficient for laboratories to do a simple
concentration to avoid overlooking parasites that may be present in very small numbers.

Reference: https://microbeonline.com/saline-wet-mount-diagnosis-intestinal-parasites/
5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of kato thick smear? 5pts
• Kato thick smear advantages are that it is suggested by the WHO for an easy the used diagnostic
procedure, inexpensive, and samples are directly mounted. The common disadvantage is that
it has low sensitivity and cannot detect hookworms species.

Reference: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Summary-of-the-advantages-orange-and-
disadvantages-purple-of-microscopy-based_fig1_353674820