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Test Code OCCB / OCDX Occult Blood Stool Guaiac Method

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Stool 

Preferred Specimen: Beckman Coulter Hemoccult test card with stool smear

Other Acceptable specimens: sterile container

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately.

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. Specimens must be received within 10 days of collection. If transport is delayed, specimens may be stored at room temperature.

Rejection Criteria

  • Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits. 
  • Frozen or heated specimens will be rejected
  • Quantity not sufficient specimens are not suitable for testing and will be rejected

Reference Values

Analyte

Age

Sex

Reference Range
Occult blood stool All Male and Female Negative 

 

Critical Values

Not applicable 

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory. 

 

STAT Turnaround Time: 60 minutes

Routine Turnaround Time: 24 hours

 

Testing Schedule: 24/7

CPT Codes

82270

LOINC Codes

OCC1 2335-8

Volume

Preferred Volume: Beckman Coulter Hemoccult test card with stool smear

Minimum Volume: 1.0 mL

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

(20 - 25°C)

 14 days

Refrigerated

(2 - 10°C)

 Not recommended

Frozen

(-20°C)

not acceptable

Collection Instructions

The Hemoccult test requires only a small fecal specimen. The specimen is applied to the guaiac paper of the Hemoccult Slide as a THIN SMEAR using the Applicator Stick provided. 

Patient given diet guidelines which include no red meat for 3 days prior to test and with restriction to oxidase rich vegetables (turnips, horseradish, artichokes, mushrooms, radishes, bean sprouts, cauliflower, oranges, apples, bananas, cantaloupes, grapes). Alcohol and aspirin especially together along with other gastric irritants should be avoided.

Test Components

Hemoccult result, date of collection

Clinical Indications

  • The Occult Blood Feces, Guaiac method (Hemoccult Sensa) is used for suspected upper GI bleeding.
  • The Occult Blood Feces, Immunochemical method may fail to detect upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding, producing a negative result. Therefore the Occult Blood, Feces Guaiac Method (Hemoccult Sensa) is used for suspected upper GI bleeding and Hemoccult ICT is used for suspected lower GI bleeding.

Methodology

Guaiac method

Synonyms/Search Keywords

Hemoccult, guaiac stool test 

Additional Information

Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) may cause false negative results.

Some oral medications (e.g. aspirin, indomethacin, phenylbutazone, corticosteroids, reserpine, etc.) can cause G.I. irritation and occult bleeding in some patients.

Last Reviewed Date

9/5/2024