Specimen Requirements

Collect a minimum of 1 mL of fresh stool specimen in a clean specimen collection container with a screw-capped lid

Limitations:

Stool samples should not be collected if the patient is experiencing menstrual bleeding, constipation bleeding,

bleeding hemorrhoids or when rectal suppositories or medication is being used.

Interferring substances:

1. Red and rare meats, horseradish, raw fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, red radish, cantalope, parsnips and turnips or other high peroxidase containing vegetables which can cause false positive results.

2. Certian medications such as aspirin, indomethacin, phenybutazone, reserpine, corticosteroids and non-

steroidal anti-infalammatory drugs can cause gastrointestinal bleeding and give false positive results.

3. Vitamin C in dosages greater tha 250 mg per day has been shown to cause false negative results

Specimen Transport Temperature

Ambient/Refrigerate NO/ Frozen No