Fecal Occult Blood
		Mandatory: Mandatory Physician Competency Form : Please open and print copy. Please turn forms into Erin or Rose. OPTIONAL: Operating Policy and Procedure Physician Competency Checklist (optional review only)

Competency Skills Checklist:

General guidelines regarding Fecal Occult Blood (FOB) testing:

• FOB for stool specimens only, not for use with guaiac specimens
• Store at room temperature and protect from heat/light/chemicals

Equipment required

1. Hemoccult SENSA slides
2. Hemoccult SENSA Developer Solution

Sample Collection

1. Hemoccult SENSA slides developed after waiting 3-5 minutes after application to help prevent false negatives.
2. Fecal samples not collected if hematuria, obvious rectal bleeding, or menstration present

Performing Test

• Observe standard precautions
• Application of thin smear covering Box A and Box B
• Wait time of 3-5 minutes prior to developing (to help prevent false negatives)
• Open flap in back, add two drops of developer to each pt smear
• Read results within 60 seconds (don't walk away because positives can fade quickly)
• No trace of blue-report as negative
• Any trace of blue-report as positive

Quality Control

• After reading patient results place 1 drop between the positive and negative Performance Monitor area. This decreases risk of confusing positive results from the control and the patient's results. (This is an internal control to assess functional stability of the slide)
• Record positive performance monitor- if blue appears within 10 seconds
• Record negative performance monitor- if blue does not appear.

Limitations

• Do NOT perform on gastric specimens
• Interfering substances in diet such as red meat or liver may create a false positive
• Medications to be avoided included vit c, motrin, asa, or naproxen 7 days prior to testing if possible.