Transcript Hemoccult and Gastroccult Testing Review

June 20, 2011
By Holly A. White, MLS(ASCP)CM, MSHS
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Department of Pathology
Hemoccult Reagents and Supplies
 Beckman Coulter Kit Includes:
 Hemoccult test slides
 Hemoccult applicators
 Hemoccult developer
 Also needed:
 Calibrated Timer
Hemoccult Procedure
 Affix label to specimen card
 Place specimen in Box A
 Place specimen from different
area in Box B
 Close flap
 Set timer for 3-5 minutes
 Open back flap
 Add two drops of developer on each test area – wait 60
seconds
 Blue color on the edges in Positive result
 Record results on paper and in computer
Negative and Positive Results
 POSITIVE TEST
The developer turns the stool specimen blue - this is an abnormal result and means that
blood is present in that stool specimen.
NEGATIVE TEST
If the stool specimen does not turn blue, then no hidden blood is present. This is a
normal result.
Quality Control of Hemoccult
 Place one drop of developer between pos and neg
circles
 Set timer for 10 sec.
 Record results
 DO NOT record results prior to testing
 DO NOT compare results of test to patient test results
Gastroccult Reagents and Supplies
 Beckman Coulter kit includes:
 Gastroccult test slides
 Gastroccult applicators
 Gastroccult developer
 A plastic storage pouch to protect slides and developer
from light and heat
 Also needed:
 Calibrated timer
Gastroccult Testing
 Place one drop of specimen in Ph testing area, and one
drop in the gastro
testing area
 Set timer for 30 sec.
 Read PH at 30 seconds
 If sample is already
In the pH testing area
pH cannot be
completed.
 Ph needs to be
read at 30 seconds
Gastroccult Testing
 2 drops of developer in Gastro testing area
 Test timer for 60 seconds
 Blue edge is positive
 QC same as with
Hemoccult
Quality Control of Gastroccult
 Place one drop of developer between pos and neg
circles
 Set timer for 10 sec.
 Record results
 DO NOT record results prior to testing
 DO NOT compare results of test to patient test results
Comments
 Interferences
-Hemoccult- incompletely cooked meat, some raw
vegetables may cause false positive
-Gastroccult- some red meat, raw vegetables may
cause false positive
 QC must be done and recorded after completion of
test
 No + and -, must be written pos or neg
 Always set a calibrated timer
More Comments and Suggestions
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Blue is a positive result
Green is a negative result
Blue/Green is a positive result
Any hint of blue color is a positive result
When in doubt, if you can, test it again.
 If the background of a card is already blue prior to the
dropping of developer, do not use the card. It may have
been exposed to heat or liquids. Open a new card,
preferably a new lot number, and start the test over. Inform
your lead tech. Cancel the test if necessary.