Specimen Requirements

Patient Preparation

1. Patient should avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for 7 days prior to test.

2. Whenever practical, patient should be placed on a meat-free, high-residue diet for 3 days prior to test and during specimen collection.

3. For 3 days prior to testing, patient is to avoid vitamin C in excess of 250 mg/day.

4. Specimen must arrive within 12 hours of collection.

Stool

Submit stool specimen on Hemoccult slide. After collection, apply a thin smear of stool onto windows inside test slide. If Hemoccult slide is not available, collect specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container. (Improperly labeled specimen, specimen submitted in leaky container, Hemoccult slide received >14 days of collection, specimen submitted on expired Hemoccult slide, or stool specimen received >12 hours of collection is not acceptable.) Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

2. Hemoccult slide is stable for up to 14 days.