Fecal analysis: occult blood

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Sections available in full article Overview, Uses, Sampling, Quantity of test material, Quality control, Test (s), Methodologies, Availability, Result data, Normal (reference) values, Abnormal values, Errors and Artifacts, Sources, Publications,
Contributors

Overview

  • Low grade intestinal hemorrhage may produce no visible color change (occult blood) in feces but chemical testing can detect hemoglobin products.

Uses

In combination

  • With hematology Hematology: complete blood count (CBC) : investigation of anemia Anemia: overview.
  • With fecal screening : investigation of diarrhea.

Result data

Normal (reference) values

  • In normal animal on meat-free diet results should be negative.

Abnormal values

  • Intestinal neoplasia:
    • Carcinoma Stomach: neoplasia.
    • Lymphoma Lymphoma.
    • Hemangiosarcoma Hemangiosarcoma (rare).
  • Gastrointestinal ulceration Gastric ulceration.

Errors and Artifacts

  • False negative
    • If commercial kit specific for human hemoglobin is used.
  • False positive
    • If animal is not deprived of hemoglobin + myoglobin-containing foods for at least 4 days before sampling.
    • If blood licked from external wounds, swallowed from nasal lesion, coughed up from lower respiratory tract (may be false but still likely to be significant).

Sources

Publications

Refereed papers

  • Jinbo T et al(1997) Experimental detection of canine hemoglobin (occult blood) in canine feces by reversed passive latex agglutination. Vet Res Commun 21 (5), 347-353.

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