To Test for Occult Blood: A Little Swab’ll Do Ya

When you need to obtain an in-officestool sample to test for occult blood,a cotton swab is easy to use and comfortablefor the patient. Moisten thetip of the swab slightly with water orsaline and insert it into the patient'srectum until the tip is not visible.Rotate the swab 360 degrees, removeit, and smear the specimen onto anoccult blood stool card. After youapply solvent, the test results will beavailable in minutes.
-Leslie R. Pryor, RN, MSN, ANP-C
  Trenton, NJ