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Stool guaiac test - Results

Alternative Names

Guaiac smear test; Fecal occult blood test - guaiac smear; Stool occult blood test - guaiac smear

Normal Values:

A negative test result means that there is no blood in the stool.

What abnormal results mean:

Abnormal results may indicate:

Angiodysplasia of the GI tract
Colon cancer or other gastrointestinal (GI) tumors
Colon polyps
Esophageal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy
Esophagitis
Gastritis
GI infections
GI trauma or bleeding from recent GI surgery
Hemorrhoids
Inflammatory bowel disease
Peptic ulcer

Stool guaiac testing is sometimes used to screen for colon cancer, but it is not a reliable test for this purpose, and other screening methods should be used.

Additional non-GI-related causes of positive guaiac test may include:

Nose bleed
Coughing up blood

Abnormal tests require follow-up with your doctor.

Reviewed last on: 3/8/2008
Christian Stone, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2006:chap 13.

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