TEST Occult Blood

LAB SECTION Clinical Microscopy

AVAILABILITY Daily (24 hours)

TURN AROUND TIME (TAT) STAT : within 2 hours

(upon receipt of the laboratory) Routine : within 4 hours

PATIENT PREPARATION In order to obtain reliable results, a diet free from

raw or only slightly cooked meat but with high
residue is recommended, starting 3 days before
testing and continuing through the test period.
Ascorbic acid and food enriched with vitamin C
should be avoided 3 days before testing and
continuing through the test period, as vitamin C can
cause false negative results.
Interfering substances also include iron salts, and
chlorophyll and plant peroxides from leafy
vegetables (particularly when eaten uncooked).

SPECIMEN Stool

VOLUME OF SPECIMEN Thumb size (3-5 grams)

CONTAINER Clean, dry, clear, wide mouth screw cup container

CAUSES OF REJECTION Improper labeled and collected specimen.

A specimen should not be collected from a patient
with menstrual bleeding, constipation bleeding,
bleeding hemorrhoids and urinary bleeding.

COLLECTION AND TRANSPORT If collected outside the hospital, the specimen

should be submitted to the lab immediately, if not
immerse the specimen in ice.

SPECIMEN STABILITY AND Refrigerate the specimen if not done within 2

STYORAGE hours.

NORMAL VALUE Negative

LIMITATIONS A positive result may be seen in alcohol in excess

and therapy with aspirin, indomethacin,
phenylbutazone, corticosteroids and reserpine as
these medications may cause gastrointestinal
bleeding and should be discontinued by the
physician two days prior to testing.
A negative result can be obtained even when a GI
disorder is present. Some bowel lesions, including
 some polyps and colorectal cancer, may not bleed
at all or may bleed intermittently, or the blood may
not be uniformly distributed in a fecal sample.
The test results can only be regarded as a
preliminary screening or as an aid to diagnosis. It is
not intended to replace other diagnostic procedures
such as G.I. fibroscope, endoscopy, colonoscopy or
other x-ray studies.

METHODOLOGY: Hemoglobin catalysed oxidation of phenolic

compounds present in the guaic (Modified Guiac
Method)