stool guaiac

Introduction

Also see fecal occult blood

Indications

• screening for colon cancer
• evaluation of anemia
• evaluation of gastrointestinal hemorrhage
  • abdominal pain
  • changes in bowel movements
  • weight loss
  • melena

Clinical significance

• a rapid test for the presence of blood in the stool

Procedure

A small amount of stool is placed onto a developer card. One or two drops of a dye-containing solution (hemoccult) is applied & allowed to sit for a minute. Development of a blue color indicates presence of peroxidase activity & by inference heme & blood. Sensitivity of the test may be enhanced by rehydrating guaiac cards.

More general terms

• fecal occult blood; fecal immunochemical testing; fecal immunofluorescence testing, multitarget stool DNA (mt-sDNA, FOB, FIT, iFOBT, ColonCARE, Hemoccult, ICT, InSure)

Additional terms

• adenocarcinoma of the colon &/or rectum